apparent

adjective

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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 After a few quick meetings, the answer became apparent. — New York Times, "Virus Disrupts College Football Playoff Even Before Kickoff," 31 Dec. 2020 The lack of a public drinking law became apparent when a police officer arrested someone in violation of it, then couldn’t find a statutory reference to it in the town’s law books. — NOLA.com, "From the Files of The Farmer," 29 Dec. 2020 Since Barrett's addition to the court, the body's conservative bent became apparent almost immediately. — Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner, "Trump leaves behind a transformed judicial branch," 29 Dec. 2020 With that global view, the slackening immediately became apparent. — Paul Voosen, Science | AAAS, "Slowdown in plate tectonics may have led to Earth’s ice sheets," 22 Dec. 2020 The problems became apparent as early as March, when orders were delayed at times by weeks because of the surge in online shopping and coronavirus restrictions. — Washington Post, "This year’s online shopping rush is great for e-commerce and bad for last-minute shoppers," 21 Dec. 2020 Details on the new strain became apparent because of ongoing surveillance work within the UK, where researchers randomly sequence the genomes of thousands of virus samples every month. — John Timmer And Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "What we know about the new SARS strain that’s shutting down the UK," 21 Dec. 2020 As quickly became apparent, the chain represented Marley’s penchant to enrich himself by ignoring the plight of others. — Dallas News, "A gift for the ages: Breaking the chains of Christmas past," 20 Dec. 2020 The shift became apparent this year as Mr. Macron’s party, Republic on the Move, lost numerous mayoral elections in June, including in Paris. — Noemie Bisserbe, WSJ, "Caught Between Police and Protesters, Macron’s Centrist Balancing Act Falls Apart," 18 Dec. 2020

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

14 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Apparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apparent. Accessed 23 Jan. 2021.

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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

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