appear to

appear to

1. To seem like. It appears to me that she isn't interested in this project, as she hasn't attended one meeting. I left early because it appeared to me that you weren't coming. It appears to be genuine, but we'll have to get an expert to examine it.

2. To become visible to someone. I'm telling you, the Virgin Mary appeared to me in a vision last night. I'm sorry, a sparkly genie appeared to you and granted you three wishes? Yeah, it definitely sounds like a dream! It's like a solution to the problem suddenly appeared to me. I could see it all so clearly—this is what we have to do.

See also: appear, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

appear to someone (that...)

Fig. to seem to someone that... It appears to me that you are always late.

See also: appear, to

appear to someone

[for something] to make an appearance before someone. My late grandmother appeared to me in a dream.

See also: appear, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.