apparent

adjective

ap·​par·​ent ə-ˈper-ənt 

-ˈpa-rənt

1

: open to view : visible

The changes were readily apparent.

2

: clear or manifest to the understanding

for reasons that are apparent

3

: appearing as actual to the eye or mind

was in apparent danger

4

: manifest to the senses or mind as real or true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be factually valid

died of an apparent heart attack

The air of spontaneity is perhaps more apparent than real.

—J. R. Sutherland

5

law : having an indefeasible right to succeed to a title or estate

apparentness

ə-ˈper-ənt-nəs 

-ˈpa-rənt

noun

Synonyms

• assumed
• evident
• ostensible
• ostensive
• presumed
• prima facie
• putative
• reputed
• seeming
• supposed

Choose the Right Synonym for apparent

apparent, illusory, seeming, ostensible mean not actually being what appearance indicates.

apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

synonyms see in addition evident

Examples of apparent in a Sentence

"Reborn" is overwhelmingly a record of an inner landscape, and so there is little sense of the times—no mention of civil-rights demonstrations, no arguments about Cuba. Sontag barely even let her journal know that she was at work on a novel, although the effects of that undertaking are perhaps apparent in the increasingly aphoristic style of her pages. —Darryl Pinckney, New Yorker, 22 & 29 Dec. 2008

He believes that the key to memory, despite its apparent complexities, will eventually prove to be simple: a single molecule. He may be right. —Michael Greenberg, New York Review of Books, 4 Dec. 2008

Since last fall, beekeepers in at least 35 states have reported colonies that shrank rapidly for no apparent reason. Adult bees just go missing, leaving behind young bees in need of tending. —Susan Milius, Science News, 28 July 2007

The Internal Revenue Service last week suggested that between 1 million and 2 million Americans have overseas bank accounts that issued them credit or debit cards-the apparent purpose being to evade U.S. taxes. —Robert J. Samuelson, Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2002

From the beginning, it was apparent that she was not an ordinary child.

He started yelling and throwing things for no apparent reason.

We disagreed on the apparent meaning of the movie.

What was the apparent cause of the accident?

Recent Examples on the Web

The state Department of Environmental Conservation and the city DEP both cited the MTA earlier this month when an apparent overflow in the depot’s sewage ejection pit ran off into nearby storm drains, spilling what DEC inspectors estimated to be 50 gallons of waste into the bay. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025

What could draw such large predators to an apparent oceanic desert? —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Stacy was pronounced dead of an apparent heart attack. —Christine Pelisek, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Johnathan Kovacevic did not play after the first period with an apparent injury. —Peter Baugh, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English apparaunt, apparent, apperaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French apparaunt, from present participle of aparer, apareir "to be visible, appear"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing apparent

• apparent magnitude
• apparent time
• for no apparent purpose
• heir apparent

Rhymes for apparent

• aberrant
• declarant
• grandparent
• stepparent
• transparent
• errant
• parent
• semitransparent

Kids Definition

apparent

adjective

ap·​par·​ent ə-ˈpar-ənt 

-ˈper-

1

: open to view : visible

2

: clear to the understanding : evident

apparent that the road was little used

3

: appearing to be true or real

the apparent meaning of the speech

Medical Definition

apparent

adjective

ap·​par·​ent ə-ˈpar-ənt, -ˈper- 

1

: clear or manifest to the senses

no apparent cause for the condition

2

: manifest to the senses or mind as real or true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be valid upon deeper investigation

the apparent stimulating action of a sedative drug may actually result from its depressant effect

—D. W. Maurer & V. H. Vogel

Legal Definition

apparent

adjective

ap·​par·​ent

1

: capable of being easily seen, perceived, or discovered

apparent defects

apparent ambiguity

2

: having a right to succeed to a title or estate that cannot be defeated

3

: appearing to one's senses and especially one's vision or to one's understanding as real or true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be correct or factual

an apparent ability to cause injury

the apparent scope of the agent's authority

apparently adverb