How to pronounce appear
Say it like uh-PEER. Appear has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce appear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- PEER
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Appear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of appear
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: uh-PEER.
What does appear mean?
- give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect“She seems to be sleeping”“This appears to be a very difficult problem”
- come into sight or view“He suddenly appeared at the wedding”“A new star appeared on the horizon”
- be issued or published“Did your latest book appear yet?”“The new Woody Allen film hasn't come out yet”
Where does appear come from?
From Middle English apperen, aperen, borrowed from Old French aparoir (French apparoir), from Latin appāreō (“to appear”), from ad (“to”) + pāreō (“to come forth, to become visible”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂-s- (“watch, se
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with appear
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of appear.
Questions about saying appear
How do you pronounce appear?
Say uh-PEER. The American pronunciation is /əˈpɪr/. In British English it is /əˈpɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in appear?
Appear has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEER). Broken into parts: uh · PEER.
Is appear pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /əˈpɪə/ (uh-PEER).