APPEAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does appeal mean? 

• APPEAL (noun)
  The noun APPEAL has 4 senses:

1. earnest or urgent request

2. attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

3. (law) a legal proceeding in which the appellant resorts to a higher court for the purpose of obtaining a review of a lower court decision and a reversal of the lower court's judgment or the granting of a new trial

4. request for a sum of money

  Familiarity information: APPEAL used as a noun is uncommon.

• APPEAL (verb)
  The verb APPEAL has 5 senses:

1. take a court case to a higher court for review

2. request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection

3. be attractive to

4. challenge (a decision)

5. cite as an authority; resort to

  Familiarity information: APPEAL used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• APPEAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Earnest or urgent request

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

appeal; entreaty; prayer

Context example:

an appeal to the public to keep calm

Hypernyms ("appeal" is a kind of...):

asking; request (the verbal act of requesting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "appeal"):

adjuration (a solemn and earnest appeal to someone to do something)

demagoguery; demagogy (impassioned appeals to the prejudices and emotions of the populace)

plea; supplication (a humble request for help from someone in authority)

solicitation (an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status)

suit (a petition or appeal made to a person of superior status or rank)

courting; courtship; suit; wooing (a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage))

Derivation:

appeal (request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

appeal; appealingness; charm

Context example:

his smile was part of his appeal to her

Hypernyms ("appeal" is a kind of...):

attractiveness (sexual allure)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "appeal"):

siren call; siren song (the enticing appeal of something alluring but potentially dangerous)

winsomeness (childlike charm or appeal)

Derivation:

appeal (be attractive to)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(law) a legal proceeding in which the appellant resorts to a higher court for the purpose of obtaining a review of a lower court decision and a reversal of the lower court's judgment or the granting of a new trial

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

their appeal was denied in the superior court

Hypernyms ("appeal" is a kind of...):

legal proceeding; proceeding; proceedings ((law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

appeal (take a court case to a higher court for review)

appeal (challenge (a decision))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Request for a sum of money

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

appeal; collection; ingathering; solicitation

Context example:

an appeal to raise money for starving children

Hypernyms ("appeal" is a kind of...):

petition; postulation; request (a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "appeal"):

whip-round ((British) solicitation of money usually for a benevolent purpose)

• APPEAL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they appeal    ... he / she / it appeals   
Past simple: appealed   
Past participle: appealed   
-ing form: appealing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take a court case to a higher court for review

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

He was found guilty but appealed immediately

Hypernyms (to "appeal" is one way to...):

challenge (issue a challenge to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

appeal ((law) a legal proceeding in which the appellant resorts to a higher court for the purpose of obtaining a review of a lower court decision and a reversal of the lower court's judgment or the granting of a new trial)

appealable (capable of being appealed especially to a higher tribunal)

appellant (the party who appeals a decision of a lower court)

appellant (of or relating to or taking account of appeals (usually legal appeals))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

appeal; invoke

Context example:

Invoke God in times of trouble

Hypernyms (to "appeal" is one way to...):

ask for; bespeak; call for; quest; request (express the need or desire for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "appeal"):

plead (appeal or request earnestly)

call on; turn (have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s to somebody

Derivation:

appeal (earnest or urgent request)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be attractive to

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

appeal; attract

Context example:

The beautiful garden attracted many people

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "appeal"):

becharm; beguile; bewitch; captivate; capture; catch; charm; enamor; enamour; enchant; entrance; fascinate; trance (attract; cause to be enamored)

beckon (appear inviting)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

appeal (attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Challenge (a decision)

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

She appealed the verdict

Hypernyms (to "appeal" is one way to...):

challenge; take exception (raise a formal objection in a court of law)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

appeal ((law) a legal proceeding in which the appellant resorts to a higher court for the purpose of obtaining a review of a lower court decision and a reversal of the lower court's judgment or the granting of a new trial)

appealable (capable of being appealed especially to a higher tribunal)

appellant (of or relating to or taking account of appeals (usually legal appeals))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Cite as an authority; resort to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

appeal; invoke

Context example:

She invoked an ancient law

Hypernyms (to "appeal" is one way to...):

advert; bring up; cite; mention; name; refer (make reference to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

Traddles, appealed to by Mrs. Micawber's eye, feelingly acquiesced.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

To you, Inspector, the whole incident may appeal as a remarkable professional study.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was no call upon it, and she did not realize the strength of the appeal Martin made from moment to moment to her love-nature.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"That's a truly Joian plan for you! Isn't that just like her?" cried Laurie, appealing to the family, who looked as much surprised as he.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The appeal was one which could not be ignored.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"I appeal to your friends," he said, "they will, perhaps, not mind sitting in judgment on my case. By the way, you have not introduced me."

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“I should prefer going with you,” she said in a low voice, in which there was just a hint of appeal.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I appeal to Mr. Darcy:—but let me not interrupt you, sir.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

"Better let me shoot him, and we'll have no more trouble," Hans said in final appeal.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Had this lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I should never have had a fear for her.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)