C1 noun Neutral

appearance

/əˈpɪərəns/

The way that someone or something looks on the outside, or the act of arriving or becoming visible in a particular place. It often refers to the public impression a person gives, which may or may not reflect their true nature.

Examples

3 of 5
1

She was very concerned about her physical appearance before the job interview.

She was very concerned about her physical appearance before the job interview.

2

The witness is required to make a formal appearance in court next Tuesday.

The witness is required to make a formal appearance in court next Tuesday.

3

He finally made an appearance at the party just as we were about to leave.

He finally made an appearance at the party just as we were about to leave.

Word Family

Noun
appearance
Verb
appear
Adverb
apparently
Adjective
apparent
Related
apparition
💡

Memory Tip

Think of an 'appearance' as the 'entrance' of a 'peer'—it’s how someone shows up and is seen by their equals.

Quick Quiz

Despite her tired ____, she managed to lead the board meeting with incredible focus and authority.

Correct!

The correct answer is: appearance

Examples

1

She was very concerned about her physical appearance before the job interview.

everyday

She was very concerned about her physical appearance before the job interview.

2

The witness is required to make a formal appearance in court next Tuesday.

formal

The witness is required to make a formal appearance in court next Tuesday.

3

He finally made an appearance at the party just as we were about to leave.

informal

He finally made an appearance at the party just as we were about to leave.

4

The sudden appearance of new data challenged the existing scientific consensus.

academic

The sudden appearance of new data challenged the existing scientific consensus.

5

Maintaining a professional appearance is crucial for building trust with high-level clients.

business

Maintaining a professional appearance is crucial for building trust with high-level clients.

Word Family

Noun
appearance
Verb
appear
Adverb
apparently
Adjective
apparent
Related
apparition

Common Collocations

physical appearance physical appearance
public appearance public appearance
keep up appearances keep up appearances
outward appearance outward appearance
sudden appearance sudden appearance

Common Phrases

judging by appearances

judging by appearances

by all appearances

by all appearances

put in an appearance

put in an appearance

Often Confused With

appearance vs aspect

An 'aspect' is a specific feature or part of something, while 'appearance' refers to the total outward look or the act of showing up.

appearance vs resemblance

Resemblance is the state of looking like someone else, whereas appearance is just how one looks individually.

📝

Usage Notes

At the C1 level, 'appearance' is often used to discuss the philosophy of perception versus reality. It is also the standard term for a legal or professional 'showing up' in a specific venue.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'appearance' when they mean 'performance' or 'behavior.' Also, ensure not to confuse the uncountable sense (general look) with the countable sense (an instance of showing up).

💡

Memory Tip

Think of an 'appearance' as the 'entrance' of a 'peer'—it’s how someone shows up and is seen by their equals.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French 'aparance,' stemming from the Latin 'apparere' meaning 'to come into sight.'

Grammar Patterns

countable for instances of showing up (e.g., three public appearances) uncountable for the quality of looking a certain way (e.g., careful about his appearance) often followed by the preposition 'of' or 'in'
🌍

Cultural Context

Western idioms like 'don't judge a book by its cover' emphasize that 'appearance' can be deceptive and is less important than character.

Quick Quiz

Despite her tired ____, she managed to lead the board meeting with incredible focus and authority.

Correct!

The correct answer is: appearance

Related Words

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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