apparent

adjective

ap·par·ent | \ ə-ˈper-ənt

, -ˈpa-rənt\

Definition of apparent

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

Other Words from apparent Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about apparent

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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

Surveillance video captured two masked men kicking in the front door of a California house in an apparent burglary attempt -- before a woman's shouts sent them running. — Fox News, "Masked would-be burglars scared off by California woman's shouting: see the video," 16 Sep. 2019 His announcement was an apparent last-ditch attempt to attract right-wing voters before Israel heads to the polls in an unprecedented repeat election next week. — NBC News, "Netanyahu seeks to annex Jordan Valley 'in coordination' with U.S.," 10 Sep. 2019 During a briefing on Dorian on Wednesday, Trump held up an earlier forecast of the hurricane with a black extended into Alabama in marker in an apparent attempt to validate his Sunday tweet. — Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, "James Spann backs up Alabama weather service in Trump’s Dorian feud," 6 Sep. 2019 Apple introduced the feature in iOS 12, about a year ago, in an apparent attempt to help curtail the attention-sink hellscape to which its devices largely gave rise. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, "I Tried to Limit My Screen Time," 5 Sep. 2019 The apparent attempt to launch the Nahid-1 comes after two failed satellite launches of the Payam and Doosti in January and February. — Jon Gambrell, Anchorage Daily News, "Satellite photos show apparent rocket explosion Iranian launch pad," 29 Aug. 2019 Nguyen was transported to a local hospital for treatment of an apparent suicide attempt. — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE.com, "Calif. Mom Allegedly Kills 2 Daughters – Ages 14 and 4 Months — Before Dad Finds Her Unresponsive," 23 Aug. 2019 Athletic trainers failed to provide McNair with cold-water-immersion therapy — typically large tubs filled with ice water — that is used to help lower the body temperature of apparent heatstroke victims. — Don Markus, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland implements final recommendation after McNair’s death, hiring head of new sports medicine department," 21 Aug. 2019 The 66-year-old Epstein was found unresponsive in his Manhattan jail cell about 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 10 after an apparent suicide attempt. — Shirley Zhao, Fortune, "Autopsy Raises Questions Around Jeffrey Epstein’s Jail Cell Death," 15 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apparent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

17 Oct 2019

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Time Traveler for apparent

The first known use of apparent was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for apparent

apparent

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of apparent

: easy to see or understand

: seeming to be true but possibly not true

See the full definition for apparent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

apparent

adjective

ap·par·ent | \ ə-ˈper-ənt

Kids Definition of apparent

1 : clear to the understanding : evident It was apparent that we could not win.

2 : open to view : visible On a clear night many stars are apparent.

3 : appearing to be real or true The apparent theft of my lunch made me angry.

apparent

adjective

ap·par·ent | \ ə-ˈpar-ənt, -ˈper-

Medical Definition of apparent

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

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apparent

adjective

ap·par·ent

Legal Definition of apparent

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