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appearances

B1 Noun (plural) #24 most common 10 min read

appearances

The outward look or public impression of a person or situation, often contrasted with the underlying reality. It can also refer to instances of someone being present in public or in a specific place.

Top 24

At the A1 level, you might not use the word 'appearances' very often, but you will know the word 'look' or 'see.' Think of 'appearances' as a bigger word for 'how things look.' For example, if you wear nice clothes, your 'appearance' is good. In the plural, 'appearances' is used when we talk about how someone looks to other people. It is a more advanced way to say 'looks.' You might hear it in simple sentences like 'He cares about his appearances,' which means he wants people to think he looks good. It is important to remember that this word usually has an 's' at the end when we talk about a person's style or their public life.

At the A2 level, you can start using 'appearances' to describe social situations. You might learn the phrase 'public appearances.' This is when a famous person, like a singer or a football player, goes to a place where people can see them. For example, 'The movie star made many public appearances to talk about her new film.' You also use it to talk about the way things seem. If a house looks clean on the outside but is messy inside, you can say 'The appearances are good, but the inside is bad.' It is a useful word for describing the difference between what you see and what is real, even in simple terms.

At the B1 level, you should be familiar with common idioms like 'keep up appearances.' This means trying to look successful or happy even when you are not. It is a very common phrase in English-speaking cultures. You also use 'appearances' to talk about frequency in sports or work. For instance, 'She has made ten appearances on the news this month.' At this level, you understand that 'appearances' can be plural because it refers to many different times someone was seen, or many different parts of how they look. You are starting to use it to express more complex ideas about social pressure and reputation.

At the B2 level, you use 'appearances' with more nuance. You understand that 'appearances can be deceiving,' which is a sophisticated way of saying that you shouldn't trust everything you see. You can use the word in formal contexts, such as 'court appearances' or 'professional appearances.' You might also use it in academic writing to discuss 'outward appearances' versus 'inner reality.' At this stage, you are comfortable using the word as a subject or an object in complex sentences, and you know which prepositions to use, like 'judging by appearances' or 'to all appearances.'

At the C1 level, you recognize 'appearances' as a key term in social and psychological analysis. You might use it to discuss the 'politics of appearances' or how 'appearances' are managed by public relations firms. You understand the subtle difference between 'appearances' and 'facades' or 'semblances.' You can use the word to describe complex social phenomena, such as the pressure on individuals in the digital age to maintain 'curated appearances' on social media. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use the word in philosophical debates about perception and the nature of truth, where 'appearances' represent the phenomenal world.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'appearances' in all its technical, idiomatic, and literary forms. You can use it in legal discourse with precision, referring to the formal 'entry of appearances' in litigation. You can analyze literature by looking at how characters struggle with 'conflicting appearances.' You use the word effortlessly in high-level rhetoric, perhaps discussing how 'appearances' are leveraged in international diplomacy or corporate branding. You are aware of the historical and etymological roots of the word and can use it to convey subtle irony or deep social critique in your writing and speech.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

appearances in 30 Seconds

Refers to the outward look or social impression of a person or thing.
Often used to contrast surface reality with the underlying truth.
Denotes instances of being present in public, court, or media.
Commonly found in idioms like 'keep up appearances' and 'appearances can be deceiving'.

The word appearances is the plural form of 'appearance', and it carries a weight of social and visual significance. At its core, it refers to the way things look on the outside, which may or may not align with the internal reality. In social contexts, we often talk about 'appearances' to describe the public image someone projects. This can involve their clothing, their behavior in public, or the lifestyle they seem to lead. The term is frequently used when there is a suspicion that the outward image is a mask for something else. For example, a family might try to maintain a perfect image despite having internal conflicts; this is described as 'keeping up appearances.' Beyond the social mask, the word also refers to the physical act of being present in a place. If a celebrity goes to three different parties in one night, they have made three 'public appearances.' In legal contexts, it refers to the formal act of showing up in court. The versatility of the word allows it to shift from the philosophical—discussing the nature of reality versus perception—to the very practical, such as scheduling a series of guest appearances on a television show.

Social Facade: The effort to maintain a specific reputation or status, often to hide financial or emotional distress.
Physical Presence: The actual instances of being seen in public or attending specific events.
Visual Aesthetics: The general look or outward features of an object, person, or environment.

Despite their mounting debt, the couple went to great lengths to keep up appearances by hosting lavish dinner parties.

When using this word, it is important to distinguish between the singular 'appearance' (which usually refers to a single instance or a general look) and the plural 'appearances' (which often implies a pattern of behavior or a complex set of outward traits). In the phrase 'appearances can be deceiving,' the plural suggests that many different aspects of how something looks can lead to a false conclusion. This is a common theme in literature and psychology, where the tension between what is seen and what is true drives the narrative. People use this word in professional settings too, such as when a lawyer discusses their client's 'court appearances' or a PR agent manages a politician's 'public appearances.' It is a word that bridges the gap between the visual world and the world of reputation and social standing.

The politician made several campaign appearances across the state to boost his polling numbers.

To all outward appearances, the business was thriving, but internally it was a mess.

She was judged solely on her appearances, which she felt was unfair to her professional skills.

The athlete’s guest appearances on talk shows helped humanize his public image.

Using appearances correctly involves understanding the context of 'outward show' versus 'physical presence.' When you are talking about how someone looks or the impression they give, you often use it with verbs like 'keep up,' 'maintain,' or 'judge by.' For example, 'You shouldn't judge a book by its cover' is a common idiom, but in more sophisticated English, we say 'Don't judge by appearances.' This implies that the visual evidence is insufficient to understand the whole truth. In a sentence like 'They maintained appearances for the sake of the children,' the word suggests a conscious effort to act as if everything is normal when it isn't. This usage is very common in social commentary and fiction.

As a Subject: 'Appearances can be deceptive' is a classic sentence where the word acts as the subject, warning against trusting what you see.
As an Object: 'He made several public appearances last week.' Here, it is the object of the verb 'made,' referring to specific events.
In Prepositional Phrases: 'To all outward appearances, the house was empty.' This phrase sets the scene by describing the visual state of things.

The CEO’s frequent appearances at industry conferences helped build the company's brand.

Another way to use 'appearances' is in the context of frequency. When someone is required to show up somewhere regularly, we talk about the number of appearances they have made. This is common in sports (e.g., 'He has made 50 appearances for the national team') and in entertainment. In these cases, the word is purely count-based and lacks the 'deceptive' connotation. It simply means 'instances of being present.' However, when you use the phrase 'by all appearances,' you are signaling that you are making an educated guess based on what you can see. It is a useful hedging device in academic and professional writing to indicate that your conclusion is based on observation rather than absolute proof.

Judging by appearances alone, you would never guess he was a billionaire.

The lawyer noted that the defendant had missed several scheduled court appearances.

She was more concerned with appearances than with actual substance or character.

You will encounter appearances in a variety of high-stakes environments. In the news, it is used to describe the movements of public figures. When a member of the royal family or a high-ranking politician visits a hospital or a school, the media reports on their 'public appearances.' This usage emphasizes the performative nature of their role. In the legal world, 'appearances' is a technical term. If you watch a courtroom drama or read a legal transcript, you will hear about 'entering an appearance' or 'subsequent appearances,' which refers to the formal presence of a party or their legal representative in a case. This is a very specific, formal application of the word.

Entertainment Media: Talk shows and celebrity news frequently discuss 'guest appearances' or 'red carpet appearances.'
Sports Commentary: Commentators track how many 'first-team appearances' a player has made during a season.
Literature and Philosophy: Authors use the word to explore the theme of 'reality vs. appearances,' a central concept in Western thought.

The singer’s rare public appearances always spark intense speculation in the tabloids.

In everyday conversation, you might hear someone say, 'I'm just making an appearance.' This usually means they are going to an event for a short time, perhaps out of obligation, rather than staying for the whole duration. It suggests that the act of being seen is more important than the actual participation. You also hear it in the context of home renovation or personal grooming, where people talk about 'improving appearances.' In these cases, the word is synonymous with 'aesthetics' or 'curb appeal.' Whether it is a house, a person, or a corporate brand, 'appearances' are the first point of contact with the world, and thus they are discussed in any field where first impressions matter.

He made 30 appearances for the team before being traded to a rival club.

One of the most common mistakes with appearances is confusing it with the singular 'appearance.' While they are related, they are not always interchangeable. Use 'appearance' when referring to the general look of one thing (e.g., 'the appearance of the building') or a single instance of someone showing up (e.g., 'his appearance at the party was a surprise'). Use 'appearances' when you are talking about a series of events (e.g., 'public appearances') or the abstract concept of social standing (e.g., 'keeping up appearances'). Another mistake is using 'appearances' when you actually mean 'disappearance.' It sounds obvious, but in fast speech, the two can be confused, especially in negative sentences.

Singular vs. Plural: Mistake: 'She made many appearance.' Correct: 'She made many appearances.'
Preposition Errors: Mistake: 'Judging on appearances.' Correct: 'Judging by appearances.'
Confusing with 'Looks': While 'looks' is informal, 'appearances' is more formal and often implies a deeper social context.

Incorrect: He made several appearance in court. Correct: He made several appearances in court.

Learners also sometimes struggle with the phrase 'to all appearances.' They might say 'in all appearances' or 'by all appearances.' While 'by all appearances' is acceptable, 'to all appearances' is the more traditional idiomatic expression used to mean 'as far as anyone can see.' Additionally, be careful with the verb agreement. Since 'appearances' is plural, it takes a plural verb: 'Appearances are important,' not 'Appearances is important.' This is a basic rule, but it is easy to forget when 'appearances' is used as an abstract collective concept. Finally, don't over-use the word in place of simpler terms like 'looks' or 'events' unless you want to sound more formal or are specifically discussing the gap between reality and perception.

There are several words that can replace appearances depending on what you want to emphasize. If you are talking about the way someone looks physically, 'looks' or 'features' are common alternatives. 'Looks' is much more informal, while 'features' refers specifically to the parts of the face. If you are discussing the deceptive nature of how things seem, 'facade' or 'semblance' are excellent choices. A 'facade' usually implies a deliberate attempt to hide something, often used for buildings or social personalities. 'Semblance' is more abstract, meaning a slight trace or an outward show of something, like 'a semblance of order.'

Facade vs. Appearances: A facade is a single 'front,' while appearances can refer to a whole collection of external traits.
Presence vs. Appearances: 'Presence' is more about the quality of being there, while 'appearances' is about the instances of being seen.
Aesthetics vs. Appearances: 'Aesthetics' is a more technical or artistic term for how things look, whereas 'appearances' is more social.

Behind the facade of wealth, the family was actually struggling to pay their bills.

In the context of events, you might use 'showings,' 'attendances,' or 'engagements.' A 'guest engagement' is a more professional way to describe a 'guest appearance.' In sports, 'caps' is a specific term used for international appearances (e.g., 'He has 100 caps for England'). When talking about the way something is presented, 'presentation' or 'aspect' can be used. 'Aspect' refers to a particular part or feature of something's appearance. Choosing the right synonym depends on whether you are focusing on the visual, the social, the legal, or the numerical aspect of the word. 'Appearances' remains the most versatile term for general use.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The phrase 'keep up appearances' became extremely popular in the Victorian era, a time when social status and 'proper' behavior were considered more important than almost anything else.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /əˈpɪərənsɪz/

US /əˈpɪrənsɪz/

Second syllable: ap-PEAR-an-ces

Rhymes With

clearances interferences adherences coherences disappearances occurrences preferences references

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'es' as a simple 's' (it should be 'iz').
Stressing the first syllable instead of the second.
Confusing the 'ea' sound with 'air' (it should be 'ear').
Missing the 'n' sound in the third syllable.
Pronouncing 'appear' like 'apple'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in news and literature, but the plural usage can be tricky.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of specific idioms and collocations.

Speaking 3/5

Easy to pronounce but requires context to use correctly.

Listening 3/5

Can be confused with 'appearance' or 'disappearance' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

appear look see public show

Learn Next

facade semblance manifestation impropriety deceptive

Advanced

phenomenology aestheticism litigation superficiality ostentation

Grammar to Know

Plural Noun Agreement

Appearances ARE (not is) often misleading.

Idiomatic Fixed Phrases

You must say 'keep up appearances' (plural), not 'keep up appearance'.

Prepositional Usage

We judge BY appearances, not on or with them.

Countable Nouns for Events

He made three appearances (countable) in the play.

Abstract vs. Concrete

The 'appearances' of the stars (concrete) vs. social 'appearances' (abstract).

Examples by Level

He likes his appearances.

Il aime son apparence (ses looks).

Plural noun used for general look.

Her appearances are always neat.

Ses apparences sont toujours soignées.

Subject-verb agreement with plural noun.

We see his appearances on TV.

Nous voyons ses apparitions à la télé.

Plural noun referring to instances.

Appearances are important for him.

Les apparences sont importantes pour lui.

General statement using plural.

She has many public appearances.

Elle a beaucoup d'apparitions publiques.

Adjective 'public' modifying the noun.

Do not judge by appearances.

Ne jugez pas sur les apparences.

Imperative sentence with a prepositional phrase.

His appearances in class are rare.

Ses apparitions en classe sont rares.

Plural noun used for frequency.

They care about appearances.

Ils se soucient des apparences.

Verb 'care' followed by preposition 'about'.

The singer made three appearances last night.

Le chanteur a fait trois apparitions hier soir.

Countable use of the plural noun.

She wants to keep up appearances.

Elle veut sauver les apparences.

Common idiom 'keep up appearances'.

Appearances can be very different from reality.

Les apparences peuvent être très différentes de la réalité.

Comparison between appearances and reality.

His court appearances were very short.

Ses comparutions devant le tribunal ont été très courtes.

Specific context: legal.

The house has good appearances from the street.

La maison a de bonnes apparences depuis la rue.

Plural used for visual impression.

He made several guest appearances on the show.

Il a fait plusieurs apparitions en tant qu'invité dans l'émission.

Compound noun 'guest appearances'.

They are worried about their appearances.

Ils s'inquiètent de leurs apparences.

Possessive adjective 'their' with plural noun.

By all appearances, the party was a success.

Selon toute apparence, la fête a été un succès.

Introductory phrase 'By all appearances'.

Despite the crisis, they tried to maintain appearances.

Malgré la crise, ils ont essayé de maintenir les apparences.

Verb 'maintain' used with 'appearances'.

Appearances are often deceptive in this business.

Les apparences sont souvent trompeuses dans ce milieu.

Adjective 'deceptive' describing appearances.

The politician's public appearances were carefully staged.

Les apparitions publiques du politicien étaient soigneusement mises en scène.

Passive voice 'were staged'.

He has made over 200 appearances for his club.

Il a fait plus de 200 apparitions pour son club.

Numerical count of appearances.

To all outward appearances, they were a happy couple.

En apparence, ils formaient un couple heureux.

Prepositional phrase 'To all outward appearances'.

She was judged by her appearances rather than her talent.

Elle a été jugée sur ses apparences plutôt que sur son talent.

Contrast using 'rather than'.

The company improved its appearances by renovating the office.

L'entreprise a amélioré son image en rénovant le bureau.

Gerund 'renovating' explaining the method.

Appearances matter a lot in high society.

Les apparences comptent beaucoup dans la haute société.

Verb 'matter' used with plural subject.

The actor's frequent appearances in the tabloids hurt his career.

Les apparitions fréquentes de l'acteur dans les tabloïds ont nui à sa carrière.

Complex subject with prepositional phrases.

We must look beyond appearances to find the truth.

Nous devons regarder au-delà des apparences pour trouver la vérité.

Modal verb 'must' with 'look beyond'.

The defendant's court appearances were televised nationally.

Les comparutions de l'accusé ont été télévisées à l'échelle nationale.

Adverb 'nationally' modifying 'televised'.

Appearances can be deceiving, as the old saying goes.

Les apparences peuvent être trompeuses, comme le dit le vieil adage.

Use of a proverb within a sentence.

She was obsessed with appearances and social status.

Elle était obsédée par les apparences et le statut social.

Adjective 'obsessed' with preposition 'with'.

The festival features several appearances by world-renowned artists.

Le festival propose plusieurs apparitions d'artistes de renommée mondiale.

Verb 'features' followed by a complex object.

By all appearances, the merger will be finalized by Friday.

Selon toute vraisemblance, la fusion sera finalisée d'ici vendredi.

Future passive 'will be finalized'.

He maintained appearances of wealth despite being bankrupt.

Il a maintenu des apparences de richesse bien qu'il soit en faillite.

Conjunction 'despite' followed by a gerund phrase.

The philosopher argued that we only perceive appearances, not reality.

Le philosophe a soutenu que nous ne percevons que les apparences, pas la réalité.

Philosophical use of the term.

Her carefully curated appearances on social media masked a deep unhappiness.

Ses apparitions soigneusement orchestrées sur les réseaux sociaux masquaient un profond malheur.

Past participle 'curated' used as an adjective.

The legal team managed the client's appearances to minimize negative press.

L'équipe juridique a géré les apparitions du client pour minimiser la presse négative.

Infinitive of purpose 'to minimize'.

Appearances of impropriety can be as damaging as actual misconduct.

Les apparences d'irrégularité peuvent être aussi dommageables qu'une faute réelle.

Comparison using 'as... as'.

The athlete's career was defined by his record-breaking appearances.

La carrière de l'athlète a été définie par ses apparitions record.

Compound adjective 'record-breaking'.

To all outward appearances, the economy is recovering, but structural issues remain.

En apparence, l'économie se redresse, mais des problèmes structurels subsistent.

Contrastive conjunction 'but'.

The novel explores the tension between social appearances and private desires.

Le roman explore la tension entre les apparences sociales et les désirs privés.

Abstract noun 'tension' followed by 'between'.

He made several brief appearances in the film as a tribute to his father.

Il a fait plusieurs brèves apparitions dans le film en hommage à son père.

Prepositional phrase 'as a tribute to'.

The diplomat navigated the complex web of appearances and hidden agendas.

Le diplomate a navigué dans le réseau complexe d'apparences et d'agendas cachés.

Metaphorical use of 'web of appearances'.

One must be wary of judging solely by the superficial appearances of things.

Il faut se méfier de ne juger que sur les apparences superficielles des choses.

Formal pronoun 'one' and adjective 'superficial'.

The court's decision was influenced by the appearances of bias in the lower court.

La décision du tribunal a été influencée par les apparences de partialité du tribunal inférieur.

Noun phrase 'appearances of bias'.

The artist sought to dismantle the appearances of conventional beauty.

L'artiste a cherché à démanteler les apparences de la beauté conventionnelle.

Infinitive 'to dismantle' with abstract object.

Appearances are the currency of the modern celebrity industrial complex.

Les apparences sont la monnaie d'échange du complexe industriel moderne de la célébrité.

Metaphorical use of 'currency'.

The regime went to extreme lengths to preserve the appearances of democracy.

Le régime a tout fait pour préserver les apparences de la démocratie.

Idiom 'went to extreme lengths'.

In the realm of quantum physics, appearances often defy classical logic.

Dans le domaine de la physique quantique, les apparences défient souvent la logique classique.

Scientific/Philosophical context.

The character's downfall was precipitated by his inability to maintain appearances.

La chute du personnage a été précipitée par son incapacité à maintenir les apparences.

Passive voice with agent 'by'.

Common Collocations

keep up appearances

public appearances

court appearances

judging by appearances

outward appearances

guest appearances

first-team appearances

maintain appearances

brief appearances

save appearances

Common Phrases

To all appearances

By all appearances

Appearances are deceptive

Personal appearances

Appearances of bias

Make an appearance

Physical appearances

Regular appearances

Appearances of success

Initial appearances

Often Confused With

appearances vs appearance

Singular refers to a single look or arrival; plural refers to social status or multiple events.

appearances vs disappearances

The opposite; refers to things or people going away.

appearances vs apparitions

Refers to ghosts or supernatural sightings, not social looks.

Idioms & Expressions

"Keep up appearances"

To pretend that everything is going well, especially when it is not.

They sold their jewelry to keep up appearances.

General

"Appearances can be deceiving"

You cannot always judge something correctly by its outward look.

The small house was huge inside; appearances can be deceiving.

General

"Judge by appearances"

To form an opinion about someone or something based only on how they look.

It is a mistake to judge by appearances alone.

General

"Put in an appearance"

To go to an event for a short time so that people see you were there.

He put in an appearance at the party and then left.

Informal

"For the sake of appearances"

Doing something only to make sure other people have a good opinion of you.

They stayed married for the sake of appearances.

General

"To all appearances"

According to the way things look; apparently.

To all appearances, the matter has been settled.

Formal

"Save appearances"

To do something to prevent people from knowing the embarrassing truth.

The company tried to save appearances by firing the manager.

Formal

"In appearances only"

Something that is true on the surface but not in reality.

They were partners in appearances only.

General

"Beyond appearances"

Looking deeper than the surface level of a situation.

We need to look beyond appearances to understand the problem.

General

"First appearances"

The very first time something is seen or the first impression it gives.

First appearances are not always reliable.

General

Easily Confused

appearances vs Aspects

Both refer to how something looks or a part of it.

Aspects is more about parts of a whole; appearances is more about the outward show vs. reality.

We studied all aspects of the problem, but the appearances were misleading.

appearances vs Looks

Both refer to visual traits.

Looks is informal and often about beauty; appearances is formal and about social standing.

He has good looks, but he doesn't care about social appearances.

appearances vs Presence

Both involve being in a place.

Presence is the state of being there; appearances are the instances of being seen.

His presence was felt, though his appearances were few.

appearances vs Facade

Both involve a surface that might hide the truth.

Facade is usually a single 'front'; appearances is a broader term for all outward traits.

The building's facade was grand, but its appearances were neglected.

appearances vs Semblance

Both mean an outward show.

Semblance is often used for a small amount of something (e.g., 'semblance of order').

There was a semblance of peace, but appearances suggested otherwise.

Sentence Patterns

He made [number] appearances.

He made five appearances.

They want to keep up appearances.

Appearances can be [adjective].

Appearances can be deceiving.

Judging by appearances, [clause].

Judging by appearances, the house is old.

To all outward appearances, [clause].

To all outward appearances, she was fine.

The appearances of [noun] masked [noun].

The appearances of wealth masked his poverty.

[Noun] is concerned with appearances.

The society is concerned with appearances.

The web of appearances [verb].

The web of appearances blinded him.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in journalism, law, sports, and social commentary.

Common Mistakes

Judging on appearances. → Judging by appearances.
The correct preposition to use with 'judging' and 'appearances' is 'by'.
He made many appearance. → He made many appearances.
When referring to multiple instances, the noun must be plural.
Keep up the appearance. → Keep up appearances.
The idiom 'keep up appearances' is almost always used in the plural without the definite article 'the' in the middle.
Appearances is deceiving. → Appearances are deceiving.
Plural nouns require plural verbs.
In all appearances, he is happy. → To all appearances, he is happy.
The standard idiomatic phrase is 'To all appearances'.

Tips

Context Matters

Always check if you are talking about a social mask or a physical presence. This determines which verbs (like 'maintain' vs 'make') you should use.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Because 'appearances' is plural, always use plural verbs. Say 'Appearances are' not 'Appearances is'.

Fixed Phrases

Don't change the plural to singular in idioms. It is always 'keep up appearances,' never 'keep up appearance'.

Hedging

Use 'by all appearances' to soften a statement when you aren't 100% sure of the facts.

Synonym Choice

Use 'facade' for a negative, deceptive look and 'appearances' for a more general or neutral outward show.

The Final Syllable

Make sure to pronounce the 'es' at the end as 'iz'. It adds an extra syllable to the word.

Cultural Sensitivity

Be aware that 'appearances' can be a sensitive topic in cultures where 'saving face' is important.

Philosophical Use

In essays, use 'appearances' to discuss the phenomenal world as opposed to the 'thing-in-itself'.

Legal Accuracy

In law, 'appearances' is a technical term for being present in court. Use it specifically for that context.

Tracking Stats

Use 'appearances' when writing about a player's history or career statistics.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'App-Ear-Ances'. You see an 'App' on your phone, you 'Ear' (hear) about it, and then you see many 'Ances' (instances) of it everywhere. Appearances are everywhere!

Visual Association

Imagine a mask. The mask is the 'appearance'. If you have many masks for different parties, you have many 'appearances'.

Word Web

Look Seem Public Court Social Mask Presence Aesthetics

Challenge

Try to use 'appearances' in three different ways today: once for how someone looks, once for a public event, and once using the idiom 'keep up appearances'.

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French word 'aparance', which comes from the Latin 'apparentia'. The Latin root 'apparere' means 'to come into sight' or 'to show oneself'. The plural form 'appearances' began to be used specifically for social status and deceptive looks in the 17th century.

Original meaning: The act of becoming visible or showing oneself.

Indo-European (Latinate)

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing someone's 'appearances' as it can sound like you are calling them fake or superficial.

The phrase 'keep up appearances' is a staple of British and American social commentary.

The TV show 'Keeping Up Appearances' (UK). Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' (explores appearances vs. soul). The legal phrase 'Entering an appearance'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Social Status

keep up appearances
for the sake of appearances
concerned with appearances
social appearances

Legal

court appearances
enter an appearance
subsequent appearances
scheduled appearances

Sports

first-team appearances
league appearances
record appearances
substitute appearances

Media/Entertainment

public appearances
guest appearances
personal appearances
television appearances

Philosophy/Perception

outward appearances
appearances vs reality
judging by appearances
superficial appearances

Conversation Starters

"Do you think appearances are important in a professional setting?"

"Have you ever been deceived by someone's appearances?"

"Why do people feel the need to keep up appearances on social media?"

"How many appearances has your favorite athlete made this season?"

"Is it fair to judge a person based on their outward appearances?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time when you realized that appearances were deceiving.

Write about the pressure to keep up appearances in your community.

If you were a famous person, what kind of public appearances would you enjoy making?

Reflect on how your own appearances have changed over the last five years.

Discuss the difference between 'looking good' and 'maintaining appearances'.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, 'appearance' is the singular form. However, in idioms like 'keep up appearances' or when referring to multiple public events, the plural 'appearances' is required.

It means to maintain a public image of being successful, happy, or wealthy, even if the reality is the opposite. For example, a family might keep up appearances by driving a nice car even if they are in debt.

Yes, you can say 'He is very concerned with his appearances,' but it is more common to use the singular 'appearance' for a general look, or 'looks' in informal speech.

In sports, it counts how many games a player has participated in. For example, 'He has 50 appearances for the team' means he played in 50 games.

They are very similar and often interchangeable. 'To all appearances' is slightly more traditional and formal, while 'by all appearances' is also widely used to mean 'as far as one can see'.

It is neutral to formal. In casual speech, people often say 'looks' or 'the way things seem,' but 'appearances' is the standard word in journalism and professional contexts.

Usually, the word for ghosts is 'apparitions.' However, you could say 'there were several appearances of the ghost,' though it sounds a bit formal.

It is a warning that you shouldn't trust something just because of how it looks. A person who looks mean might be very kind, for example.

It refers to the formal act of a person or their lawyer showing up in court. A lawyer might 'enter an appearance' on behalf of their client.

These are instances where a famous person who is not a regular member of a show or team joins for a short time or a single event.