appeal

noun

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ap·peal | \ ə-ˈpēl

Definition of appeal

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 law : a legal proceeding by which a case is brought before a higher court for review of the decision of a lower court

2a : 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

verb

appealed; appealing; appeals

Definition of appeal (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from appeal Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing appeal Learn More About appeal

Other Words from appeal

Verb

appealability \ ə-ˌpē-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

appealable \ ə-ˈpē-lə-bəl

\ 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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun That fact brings out the other appeal of Leo Cancer Care's technology: While there are other devices that deliver proton beam radiation, the cost of doing so with the Marie is roughly cut in half. — Devi Shastri, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 17 May 2022 At time of writing, nothing has happened to the appeal. — Joshua Stein, Forbes, 16 May 2022 Alexander Hamilton, arguing for a national bank in 1790, presented the appeal of fractional-reserve banking in quantifiable terms. — Idrees Kahloon, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 Trevor Bauer’s arbitration appeal of his unprecedented two-year suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy has been scheduled to start May 23, a person familiar with the hearing told the Associated Press. — Ronald Blum, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 May 2022 Bauer’s arbitration appeal of his unprecedented two-year suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy has been scheduled to start May 23, a person familiar with the hearing told The Associated Press. — Wire Reports, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2022 So far this year, short-term interest rates in the interbank lending market have risen more slowly than those in the U.S., reducing the relative appeal of the Hong Kong dollar. — Dave Sebastian, WSJ, 12 May 2022 But his co-star understands the appeal of his role innately. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 May 2022 Any appeal of a down market depends on your age and your investing time horizon. — Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 11 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Find cultural waves, breaking news, product innovations, top-ten lists and influencer topics that appeal to our innate curiosity, then drive them deeper into the funnel with exclusivity, and end with limited time to activate. — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 17 May 2022 So, Fodor and McGinnis, aware of that fact, had to try to smash through the boating industry’s fiberglass ceiling with a breakthrough design that would appeal to everyone. — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 17 May 2022 Contributing to the decline is a lack of used options, particularly at low price points that appeal to those on a tight budget, analysts and car retailers say. — Ryan Felton, WSJ, 14 May 2022 Here are five more movies that should appeal to the kids in your life. — Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 13 May 2022 Most of these are right-wing stories that appeal to survivalists and preppers. — Geek's Guide To The Galaxy, WIRED, 6 May 2022 Taylor had issues with penalties and touchdowns allowed in college but does possess some measurables that appeal to NFL teams. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2022 The sturdiness and comfort of the table and chairs is paramount too; no one wants to sit on one of those wiry chairs for hours at a time, so think carefully about the materials that appeal most to you. — Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 28 Apr. 2022 The characterization comes as a fourth candidate enters the Republican primary with the ability to pour millions into his campaign and a backstory that could appeal to the head of the party, former President Donald Trump. — Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2022 See More

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

History and Etymology for appeal

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

Learn More About appeal

Dictionary Entries Near appeal

appeach

appeal

appealing

Statistics for appeal

Last Updated

20 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Appeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appeal. Accessed 27 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for appeal

appeal

noun

ap·peal | \ ə-ˈpēl

Kids Definition of appeal

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the power to cause enjoyment : attraction the appeal of music

2 : the act of asking for something badly needed or wanted : plea an appeal for funds

3 : a legal action by which a case is brought to a higher court for review

appeal

verb

appealed; appealing

Kids Definition of appeal (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to be pleasing or attractive … the thought of eating raw fish didn't appeal to me.— Theodore Taylor, The Cay

2 : to ask for something badly needed or wanted They appealed to the boss for more money.

3 : to take action to have a case or decision reviewed by a higher court

appeal

noun

ap·peal | \ ə-ˈpēl

Legal Definition of appeal

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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.

Other Words from appeal

appealability \ ə-ˌpē-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

appealable \ ə-ˈpē-lə-bəl

\ adjective

appeal

transitive verb

Legal Definition of appeal (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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