1 somewhat formal : the way that someone or something looks [count] ▪ The room has a neat/fresh/clean appearance. [=look] ▪ The general appearance of the house is quite good. ▪ The museum restored the painting to its original appearance. ▪ lotions that improve your skin's appearance and texture ▪ It minimizes the appearance of wrinkles. [=it makes wrinkles more difficult to see] ▪ You shouldn't judge a man by his appearance. ▪ Have you noticed any changes in her appearance? ▪ He's very proud of his physical appearance. [=the way he looks] [noncount] ▪ He is still very youthful in appearance. [=he still looks very young] ▪ They are very similar in appearance. [=they look the same] 2 [count] : a way of looking that is not true or real
▪ He appears to be happy, but appearances can be deceptive/deceiving. ▪ Their expensive home created a false appearance of success and happiness. ▪ The furniture has the appearance of being made by hand. [=the furniture was not made by hand but it looks/appears as if it was] ▪ Despite appearances, her company is very successful. = Appearances to the contrary, her company is very successful. [=her company is very successful even though it does not appear to be] ▪ She is only attending the banquet for the sake of appearances. [=because people think that she should attend] ▪ He was, to/by all (outward) appearances, a happily married man. [=he seemed to be a happily married man, but he wasn't] ▪ Their meetings tend to take on the appearance of [=to look like] family gatherings. ▪ His white beard gave him the appearance of an old man. [=made him look like an old man] ▪ The playground gives every appearance of being a safe place for children [=the playground appears to be a safe place for children], but a tragic accident occurred there recently. 3 [count] : the action of appearing : the fact that something or someone arrives or begins to be seen — usually singular ▪ The appearance of buds on the trees tells us that spring has arrived. ▪ We were surprised by the appearance of smoke in the distance. ▪ I wasn't expecting him to come and was surprised by his sudden appearance. [=I was surprised when he suddenly appeared/arrived] 4 [count] : the time when something begins to exist or is seen for the first time — usually singular ▪ The appearance [=creation] of the Internet has changed our culture in many ways. ▪ The technology made its first appearance [=appeared for the first time] in the early 1980s. ▪ Before the appearance of the telephone, people sent messages by telegraph. 5 [count] : an act of being seen or heard by the public as an actor, politician, athlete, etc.
▪ He has announced that this will be his final/last appearance with the band. [=the last time that he will perform in public with the band] ▪ This is her first appearance [=the first time that she has competed] at/in the national championships. — often used with make ▪ She is making her first appearance at/in the national championships. ▪ Tonight, he is making his first public appearance since winning the award. ▪ He'll be making a special guest appearance [=performing as a guest] on the popular television show next fall. 6 [count] : the formal act of going in front of a person or group to speak, answer questions, etc.
▪ One man has been convicted of the crime, and two others are awaiting court appearances. [=waiting to go to court] — often + before ▪ He is awaiting his appearance before a judge. ▪ She made an appearance before Congress last year.