appeal

1 of 2

noun

ap·​peal ə-ˈpēl How to pronounce appeal (audio)
1
law : a legal proceeding by which a case is brought before a higher court for review of the decision of a lower court
2
a
: an application (as to a recognized authority) for corroboration, vindication, or decision
b
: an earnest plea : entreaty
an appeal for help
c
: an organized request for donations
the annual fundraising appeal
3
: the power of arousing a sympathetic response : attraction
Movies had a great appeal for him.
4
law : a criminal accusation

appeal

2 of 2

verb

appealed; appealing; appeals

intransitive verb

1
: to arouse a sympathetic response
an idea that appeals to him
2
: to make an earnest request
We appealed to them for help.
3
law : to take a lower court's decision to a higher court for review
4
: to call upon another for corroboration, vindication, or decision

transitive verb

1
law : to take proceedings to have (a lower court's decision) reviewed in a higher court
2
law : to charge with a crime : accuse
appealability noun
appealable adjective
appealer noun

Examples of appeal in a Sentence

Noun Her jokes are quickly losing their appeal. the wide appeal of the artist's work His appeals to his father for money were ignored. The mayor made an appeal to the people of the city to stay calm. We made a donation during the school's annual appeal. She helped to organize an appeal on behalf of the homeless. My lawyer said the court's decision wasn't correct and that we should file for an appeal. Verb music that appeals to a wide variety of people The government appealed for calm. desperate people who are appealing for help The government appealed to the people to stay calm. He appealed, arguing that there was not enough evidence to convict him. She lost the case and appealed the following month. We plan to appeal the court's decision. The ruling can be appealed within 30 days.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
While some idols wait years to tour internationally as soloists or apart from their groups, Hwasa is seizing the opportunity early to prove that her appeal extends far beyond her home country. Jeff Benjamin, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Both parties agreed to an uncontested divorce and waived their right to a trial and an appeal of the case, per documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by USA TODAY. Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
Bush Hager noted that there were plenty of things that appealed to her with The Bodyguard, even at a younger age. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024 Navarro was reported to have appealed to Trump's protectionist tendencies during his first term, fueling the president-elect's affinity for tariffs. Avery Lotz, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for appeal 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English apeel, appel, appele "accusation brought in court, challenge to trial by combat, legal application to a higher court," borrowed from Anglo-French appel, appell "call, summons, accusation of felony, legal application to a higher court," noun derivative of apeler, appeler "to call, summon, call before a court" — more at appeal entry 2

Verb

Middle English appelen, apelen "to call upon, accuse, make a charge against in court, challenge, apply to a higher court," borrowed from Anglo-French apeler, appeler "to call, summon, call before a court," borrowed from Latin appellāre "to speak to, address, apply to for support, refer to a higher authority, call upon, name, designate," from ap-, assimilated form of ad- ad- + -pellāre, first-conjugation verb formed from the base of pellere "to beat against, push, strike" — more at pulse entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of appeal was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near appeal

Cite this Entry

“Appeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appeal. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

appeal

1 of 2 noun
ap·​peal ə-ˈpē(ə)l How to pronounce appeal (audio)
1
: a legal proceeding by which a case is brought to a higher court for review
2
: an asking for something badly needed or wanted : plea
an appeal for help
3
: the power to cause enjoyment : attraction
movies had a great appeal for him

appeal

2 of 2 verb
1
: to make a legal appeal
2
: to call upon another for a decision
appealed to the umpire
3
: to ask for something badly needed or wanted
4
: to be pleasing or attractive
the idea appeals to her

Legal Definition

appeal

1 of 2 noun
ap·​peal ə-ˈpēl How to pronounce appeal (audio)
: a proceeding in which a case is brought before a higher court for review of a lower court's judgment for the purpose of convincing the higher court that the lower court's judgment was incorrect
also : a proceeding for the review of an agency decision at a higher level within the agency or in a court see also affirm compare certiorari, new trial, rehearing

Note: The scope of an appeal is limited. The higher court will review only matters that were objected to or argued in the lower court during the trial. No new evidence can be presented on appeal.

appealability noun
appealable adjective

appeal

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to take (a lower court's decision) before a higher court for review : undertake an appeal of (a case)

intransitive verb

: to take a lower court's decision to a higher court for review
Etymology

Noun

Old French apel, from apeler to call, accuse, appeal, from Latin appellare

More from Merriam-Webster on appeal

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