Skip to main content
to disappear

to disappear

1.0
To stop being seen or to no longer be there
  • verb
  • /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/
translation icon : desaparecer
  • Terry got out of the car, finally, and disappeared around the side of Kathy's house.
  • completely disappear
  • largely disappear
  • almost disappear

And that does seem to have disappeared or, or has it?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • As the sun set, the colors of the sky began to disappear one by one.

  • Inventions are part of our culture that appear and disappear through time.

  • Now can you make yourself disappear?

  • Perhaps some have disappeared before we even found them.

  • And that generosity can disappear as quickly as it came in.

  • And so gold and silver, independent money, disappeared from the system.

  • We can't let a girl disappear without doing something.

  • "Take care..." And then he turned away from them and disappeared into the cavernous building.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Climate change is affecting plant survival and causing some species to disappear or try to migrate.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Eddie waited in the idling car until the boy disappeared with a wave into the building.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to die
vsto disappear
840 4.8

To stop being felt, as a feeling or idea

is more general and also applies to visible, physical endings
to fade
vsto disappear
531 1.2

To slowly become less visible, bright, or loud

is broader and also covers ceasing to exist, not only quality loss
to go away
vsto disappear
463 1.0

To stop being seen or felt

can also mean ceasing to exist rather than only fading from view
to vanish
vsto disappear
421 3.0

Disappear suddenly and completely for no clear reason

is broader and does not require suddenness or mystery
to melt
vsto disappear
73 2.8

To become part of the background and less clear

is broader and applies beyond physical melting or blending
to fade away
vsto disappear
69 3.0

To become weaker and then disappear over time

is the general word and can include sudden endings too
to die out
vsto disappear
47 3.7

To stop existing over time, for example animals or traditions

is a more general word and can describe single things too
to dissolve
vsto disappear
43 3.9

To slowly disappear or become less clear

is a general term not limited to blending or mixing
to evaporate
vsto disappear
38 4.1

Gradually become less strong until a feeling is gone

is the broader term and applies to physical and abstract endings
to die off
vsto disappear
21 5.8

Plants or animals gradually become fewer until none remain

is broader and applies to single items or abstract losses too
to become extinct
vsto disappear
15 4.5

Stop existing as a kind of animal, plant, or language

is broader and includes temporary or local losses, not only extinction
to fade out
vsto disappear
15 3.9

Gradually become harder to see or quieter until it disappears

is a wider term and can include abrupt or permanent ends
to float away
vsto disappear
15 3.2

Move slowly through the air or water until out of sight

is more general and includes nonmoving forms of ending
to pass away
vsto disappear
12 3.5

To slowly disappear or stop existing

is neutral and covers abrupt or nongentle endings as well
to peter out
vsto disappear
9 5.6

To slowly become weaker and then stop

is broader and can refer to sudden stopping as well
to die away
vsto disappear
8 4.2

To become quieter and then stop

is broader and includes physical loss or complete ending
to disappear into thin air
vsto disappear
  • Informal
8 4.4

To vanish suddenly with no trace

is the general word and covers ordinary or abstract endings too
to burn away
vsto disappear
6 3.2

Become used up by fire or slowly disappear over time from heat and light

is the general term and is not tied to burning causes
to dematerialize
vsto disappear
  • US
5 9.6

Disappear from sight and stop having a physical form

is broader and covers both physical and abstract endings
to vaporize
vsto disappear
  • Informal
4 5.6

To disappear or fall very quickly, for example when money loses value

is broader and also covers slow or gradual endings
to dwindle away
vsto disappear
1 4.6

Slowly get smaller in number or amount until nothing remains

is more general and can mean loss of sight rather than quantity
to vanish off the face of the earth
vsto disappear
  • Informal
1 8.1

Disappear completely so no one knows what happened and no sign is left

is more neutral and does not always imply no trace remains
to drop off the radar
vsto disappear
  • Informal
1 7.5

To stop being seen or heard from by others

is about ceasing to exist or be visible, not just being ignored
to evanesce
vsto disappear
  • Literature
9.9

To disappear slowly like mist

is the common word and is less delicate or poetic in tone

Antonyms

873 1.0

To come into view or become visible

249 3.5

To come out from behind or under something and become visible

To become real or happen as hoped

Idioms

To vanish suddenly with no trace

To sell very quickly in large numbers

How Gone

to vanish
421 3.0
to disappear
1.0
to evaporate
38 4.1
to fade
531 1.2
to diminish
201 3.7

Surface Forms

disappear infinitive
disappearing present participle
disappears third person singular
disappeared past participle

Morphology

disappear = appear (transparent) = dis + appear

This is a regular negative/reversive prefixation from 'appear', and the meaning 'stop being visible or cease to be present' is readily inferable.

Etymology

Disappear is made of dis- meaning 'not' or 'away' and appear meaning 'to be seen'. So disappear literally means 'to not be seen' or to move away from view, which is why it means to stop being visible or to no longer exist.