appeal

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

ə-ˌpē-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

appealable

ə-ˈpē-lə-bəl 

adjective

appealer noun

Synonyms of appeal

• beg
• petition
• plead (to)

Examples of appeal in a Sentence

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

With activities, amenities, and a location that appeals to all ages, beach resorts are among the most popular family vacation ideas all around the world. —Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 9 June 2026

But the Minnesota Supreme Court later ordered a new sentencing after prosecutors appealed on the basis that the sentence failed to account for the severity of the crimes. —Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 8 June 2026

The ruling, which, as an injunction, is a non-final order and can be appealed by the NCAA, applies only in one county in Texas. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 June 2026

The former Cincinnati quarterback is appealing his suspension for gambling on college football, but should be considered a long shot to play. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

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

Phrases Containing appeal

• curb appeal
• on appeal
• sex appeal
• snob appeal
• under appeal

Rhymes for appeal

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• genteel
• handwheel

Kids Definition

appeal

1 of 2 noun

ap·​peal ə-ˈpē(ə)l 

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 

: 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

ə-ˌpē-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

appealable

ə-ˈpē-lə-bəl 

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

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