Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - appear

~ v 1 »SEEM« linking verb, not in progressive) a word used especially in formal or written English meaning to seem  (appear upset/calm etc)  (Roger appeared very upset. | The city appeared calm after the previous night's fighting. | appear to be)  (There appeared to be no significant difference between the two groups in the test. | appear to do sth)  (The man appeared to have had a heart attack. | it appears that)  (It appears that there has been a change in the plans. | what appears to be (=something that looks like))  (Police have found what appear to be human remains. | make it appear that)  (She put the gun next to the body, to make it appear that the victim had shot himself. | so it would appear (=used to say that it seems likely that something is true, although you are not completely sure))  ("The boys are completely innocent?" "So it would appear from the press reports.") 2 »START TO BE SEEN« to start to be seen or to suddenly be seen  (An image appeared on the screen. | Two faces appeared at our window.) + from  (The manager hardly ever appeared from his office. | appear out of nowhere (=suddenly appear in a way that is very surprising))  (I don't know what caused the marks - they just seemed to appear out of nowhere. | appear overnight (=appear very quickly or suddenly))  (Software development is a fast-moving business - firms appear and disappear virtually overnight.) 3 »FILM/TV PROGRAMME ETC« to take part in a film, play, concert, television programme etc + in/on  (Roseanne Barr has appeared on the show several times .) + a  (Vanessa Redgrave is currently appearing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.) 4 »BE WRITTEN/SHOWN« to be written or shown on a list, in a book or newspaper, in a document etc  (Her name appears at the front of the book. | The story appeared in all the national newspapers.) 5 »PRODUCT/BOOK« if a product or book appears, it becomes available to be bought for the first time  (When the book finally appeared on the shelves it was a huge success.) 6 »STH NEW/DIFFERENT« if something new or surprising appears, it happens or exists for the first time  (Several neo-punk bands have recently appeared on the music scene.) 7 »LAW COURT« to be present in a court of law for a trial1 (1) that you are involved in  (Smith was ordered to appear in court to face charges on the 15th.) + on behalf of/for  (Sir Nicholas Gammon QC appeared on behalf of the defendant.) 8 »COMMITTEE« appear before/in front of sth to answer questions by members of an official group who are trying to find out about something  (The Senator appeared before the Ways and Means Committee.) 9 »ARRIVE« to arrive, especially when people are not expecting you to  (Karen appeared at about 9 o'clock.)