to appear

Examples

• All

• As the sun set, the stars began to appear one by one in the night sky.

• And as word of the gold shipment spread, strangers suddenly appeared in Jungle Village.

  The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

• If not, it will appear somewhere here.

• And I understand it that it's going to appear just to my left here.

  The British Museum

• That does appear to be the case, yes.

  Wicked Little Letters (2024)

• If you wait long enough, a spot will appear somewhere on that sphere.

• Highlights appear as hair curves towards the light.

• Cicadas appear every 17 years, right?

  Blood Hook (1987)

• If infected, mutations will begin to appear within five days.

  The Gorge (2025)

• Her vociferous protest followed, and a man appeared in the doorway of the room.

  Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

S

to show up

vsto appear

∞ 1.4

To be seen or arrive at a place

is broader and can refer to any kind of becoming visible, not just arrival

O

to occur

vsto appear

910 2.1

Be present in a place or situation

is more about becoming visible or coming into sight than merely occurring

E

to emerge

vsto appear

604 4.0

To become known or start to exist, for example as an idea

is more physical, describing coming into sight rather than just becoming known

C

to come out

vsto appear

526 2.3

To appear or become visible, for example when the sun shines through clouds

is broader and also includes beginning to exist rather than only visibility

A

to arise

vsto appear

333 3.3

Start to exist or happen

is less event-focused and more about coming into sight or existence generally

C

to come along

vsto appear

183 3.0

To appear or arrive when you do not expect it

is more general, applying to simple visibility or existence rather than availability

T

to turn up

vsto appear

177 2.0

To appear after being lost or when not expected

is more neutral and does not require surprise or prior loss

M

to make an appearance

vsto appear

36 3.5

Go to an event, often briefly or in a formal way

is the general notion of becoming visible or coming into existence in any context

C

to come into being

vsto appear

20 3.9

To start to exist

is broader, also covering simply becoming visible rather than only starting to exist

C

to come forth

vsto appear

• Formal

7 4.2

Appear from a place, often suddenly

is more general and covers plain visibility or origin without formality

Antonyms

D

to disappear

∞ 1.0

To stop being seen or to no longer be there

V

to vanish

421 3.0

Disappear suddenly and completely for no clear reason

How Visible

to materialize

63 5.8

to appear

873 1.0

to emerge

249 3.5

Surface Forms

Etymology