1 [noncount] : a quality that causes people to like someone or something
▪ I can't understand the appeal of skydiving. [=I can't understand why some people like it] ▪ Music never held much appeal [=attraction] for him. ▪ Her jokes are quickly losing their appeal. ▪ The movie has great appeal to/for adults as well as children. [=adults and children like the movie] ▪ the wide/broad/mass/universal appeal of the artist's work — see also sex appeal 2 [count] a : a serious request for help, support, etc.
▪ They made a desperate appeal [=plea, entreaty] for help. ▪ His appeals to his father for money were ignored. ▪ The mayor made an appeal to the people of the city to stay calm.
b : an attempt to make someone do or accept something as right or proper by saying things that are directed at a person's feelings, attitudes, etc. — + to ▪ The author makes an appeal to the reader's emotions. ▪ an appeal to reason ▪ an appeal to the intellect
c : an organized effort to raise money
▪ We made a donation during the school's annual appeal. ▪ She helped to organize/launch an appeal on behalf of the homeless. 3 : a process in which a decision is studied and accepted or rejected by a higher court or by someone in authority [count] ▪ My lawyer said the court's decision wasn't correct and that we should file for an appeal. ▪ lodge an appeal [noncount] ▪ Her conviction was thrown out on appeal. [=a higher court decided that she should not have been convicted] ▪ The case is currently under appeal. [=the case is currently being reviewed by a higher court] — see also court of appeals