Appeal

/əˈpiːl/ noun, verb

noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.
  • Grammar: appeal is listed as noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: charm, solicitation, academic dispute, academic dissent case.
  • Useful contrasts: aesthetic disgust, deep disgust, intense aversion.
  • Usage evidence: The students were animated by the agitator's appeal.

How to use "appeal"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "appeal" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

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  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
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Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "appeal" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "appeal" as the right word for your sentence.

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Compare nearby meanings

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Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "appeal" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

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3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

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Final meaning check

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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    (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 wordnet
  3. 3
    The legal document or form by which such an application is made; also, the court case in which the application is argued. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates wordnet
  5. 5
    A person's legal right to apply to court for such a review. countable, uncountable

    "I have an appeal against the lower court decision."

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    request for a sum of money wordnet
  2. 7
    An accusation or charge against someone for wrongdoing (especially treason). countable, historical, uncountable

    "Anciently an appeal lay for high treaſon. […] But it ſeems to be taken away by the ſt[atute] 1 H[enry] 4. 14. And now, if murder be made treaſon, an appeal does not lie."

  3. 8
    earnest or urgent request wordnet
  4. 9
    A process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offence against the public; an accusation. countable, historical, uncountable

    "Ovld Iohn of Gaunt time honoured Lancaſter, / Haſt thou according to thy oath and bande / Brought hither Henrie Herford thy bolde ſonne, / Here to make good the boiſtrous late appeale, / Which then our leyſure would not let vs heare / Againſt the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Moubray?"

  5. 10
    At common law, an accusation made against a felon by one of their accomplices (called an approver). countable, historical, uncountable
  6. 11
    A call to a person or an authority for a decision, help, or proof; an entreaty, an invocation. countable, uncountable

    "He made an appeal for volunteers to help at the festival."

  7. 12
    A call to a person or an authority for a decision, help, or proof; an entreaty, an invocation.; The act, by the fielding side, of asking an umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out or not. countable, uncountable
  8. 13
    A resort to some physical means; a recourse. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  9. 14
    A power to attract or interest. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "The shows’ viewer appeal is simple: they’re family-friendly, good-natured and easy to play along with."

  10. 15
    a use of a principle or quality for purposes of persuasion. countable, rhetoric, uncountable
  11. 16
    A summons to defend one's honour in a duel, or one's innocence in a trial by combat; a challenge. countable, historical, uncountable

    "Nor ſhall the Sacred Character of the King / Be urg'd, to ſhield me from thy bold appeal."

Verb
  1. 1
    Often followed by against (the inferior court's decision) or to (the superior court): to apply to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned. intransitive

    "Dissatisfied with the judge’s ruling, she decided to appeal."

  2. 2
    request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection wordnet
  3. 3
    To apply to a superior court or judge to review and overturn (a decision or order by an inferior court or judge). transitive

    "The plaintiff appealed the decision to the appellate court."

  4. 4
    cite as an authority; resort to wordnet
  5. 5
    To accuse or charge (someone) with wrongdoing (especially treason). historical, transitive

    "This ſhalle not ſo be ended ſaid ſyr Mador de la porte / for here haue I loſte a ful noble knyght of my blood / And therfore vpon this ſhame & deſpyte I wille be reuenged to the vtteraunce / and there openly ſir Mador appeled the quene of the dethe of his coſyn ſir patryſe /"

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    be attractive to wordnet
  2. 7
    Of a private person: to instituted legal proceedings (against another private person) for some heinous crime, demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered. historical, transitive
  3. 8
    take a court case to a higher court for review wordnet
  4. 9
    Of the accomplice of a felon: to make an accusation at common law against (the felon). historical, transitive
  5. 10
    challenge (a decision) wordnet
  6. 11
    To call upon a person or an authority to corroborate a statement, to decide a controverted question, or to vindicate one's rights; to entreat, to invoke. intransitive

    "And we are as willing to appeal to the Scripture as you."

  7. 12
    To call upon a person or an authority to corroborate a statement, to decide a controverted question, or to vindicate one's rights; to entreat, to invoke.; Of a fielding side; to ask an umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out or not, usually by saying "How's that?" or "Howzat?". intransitive
  8. 13
    To call upon someone for a favour, help, etc. intransitive

    "I appeal to all of you to help the orphans."

  9. 14
    To have recourse or resort to some physical means. figuratively, intransitive

    "Among the claimants were the mightiest sovereigns of the continent: there was little chance that they would submit to any arbitration but that of the sword; and it could not be hoped that, if they appealed to the sword, other potentates who had no pretension to any part of the disputed inheritance would long remain neutral."

  10. 15
    To be attractive. figuratively, intransitive

    "That idea appeals to me."

  11. 16
    To summon (someone) to defend their honour in a duel, or their innocence in a trial by combat; to challenge. historical, transitive

    "[…] I have friends, I have followers—man to man will I appeal the Norman to the lists; let him come in his plate and his mail, and all that can render cowardice bold; I have sent such a javelin as this through a stronger fence than three of their war shields!"

Synonyms

All synonyms
charmsolicitationacademic disputeacademic dissent caseacceptabilityact of asking

Antonyms

aesthetic disgustdeep disgustintense aversionnauseating

Example

"The students were animated by the agitator's appeal."

Common questions

What does "appeal" mean?

An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.

What is a synonym for "appeal"?

Common synonyms include: charm, solicitation, academic dispute, academic dissent case, acceptability, act of asking.

How do you use "appeal" in a sentence?

The students were animated by the agitator's appeal.

How do you pronounce "appeal"?

Pronounced /əˈpiːl/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English apel, appel (“formal accusation brought in court; a challenge to trial by combat; an appeal to a higher court or authority; plea (for mercy, protection, etc.); pealing (of bells)”) [and other forms], from Old French apel (“a call”) (modern French appel (“a call; an appeal”)), from apeler (“to call; to call out”), from Latin appellāre (“to address as, call by name; to drive, move to; to land or put ashore”), alternative form adpellāre, from ad- (prefix meaning ‘to; towards’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd (“at; to”)) + pellere (“to drive, impel, push; to hurl, propel; to banish, expel; to eject, thrust out”) + -āre, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- (“to approach”), from *pel- (“to beat; to drive; to push”). Doublet of appel.

Etymology 2

From Middle English apelen, appelen (“to accuse; to make a formal charge before a court, etc., impeach; to challenge to trial by combat; to apply to a higher court or authority for review of a decision; to call upon for a decision, favour, help, etc.; to call by a name”) [and other forms], from Old French apeler (“to call; to call out”); see further at etymology 1.

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Synonyms

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