appeal

1 of 2

noun

ap·​peal ə-ˈpēl 

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

ə-ˌpē-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

appealable

ə-ˈpē-lə-bəl 

adjective

appealer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• adjuration
• conjuration
• cry
• desire
• entreaty
• petition
• plea
• pleading
• prayer
• solicitation
• suit
• suppliance
• supplication

Verb

• beg
• beseech
• besiege
• conjure
• entreat
• impetrate
• implore
• importune
• petition
• plead (to)
• pray
• solicit
• supplicate

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

Noun

The court granted a motion to stay the lower court's order during further appeals, which gives control of the troops to Trump. —Dennis Romero, NBC news, 20 June 2025

There is also a case to be made that playing well with Thompson is part of Peterka’s appeal. —Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 20 June 2025

Verb

For Bronco, Ford wanted to find a way to translate the idea of capability into empowerment and to appeal to women, allowing drivers to extend the experience into the lifestyle of a Ford Bronco owner. —Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

Robert Suarez is appealing Major League Baseball’s decision to suspend him three games for hitting Shohei Ohtani with a pitch in the ninth inning Thursday. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025

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

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
• foveal
• genteel

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

Noun

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