Definition

1. Noun:

   • A serious, urgent, or heartfelt request: An "appeal" is a plea for help, support, or a specific action.
   • The power to attract, interest, or be pleasing: "Appeal" refers to a quality that makes someone or something likable or desirable.
   • (Law) A formal request to a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court: In legal contexts, an "appeal" is the process of asking a superior court to overturn a verdict.

2. Verb:

   • To make a serious or urgent request: To "appeal" is to ask earnestly for something, such as help or support.
   • To be attractive or interesting: To "appeal" means to be pleasing or to generate a positive interest.
   • (Law) To formally ask a higher court to review and reverse a legal decision: To "appeal" a verdict is to challenge it in a higher court.
   • To cite or call upon as support: To "appeal" to a principle, authority, or emotion is to invoke it for support.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The charity launched an appeal for donations. (A request for money)
  • The film's main character has a lot of appeal. (Attractive quality)
  • The lawyer filed an appeal against the conviction. (Legal request for review)

• Verb:

  • The organization appealed to the public for information. (Made a request)
  • Does the idea of a beach holiday appeal to you? (Seem attractive)
  • The defendant decided to appeal the sentence. (Challenge legally)
  • He appealed to their sense of justice. (Invoked a principle)

Advanced Usage

• "To appeal to someone's better nature": To ask someone to act according to their kindness or morality.

  • She appealed to his better nature to forgive the mistake.

• "Court of Appeal": The name for a court that hears appeals from lower courts.

  • The case was heard in the Court of Appeal.

• "To lose its appeal": To become no longer attractive or interesting.

  • The novelty of the gadget quickly lost its appeal.

Variants and Related Words

• Appealing (Adjective): Attractive, interesting, or likable.

  • She has an appealing smile.

• Appealingly (Adverb): In an attractive or engaging manner.

  • The puppy looked at her appealingly.

• Appellant (Noun): The person who makes a legal appeal.

  • The appellant argued that the trial was unfair.

• Appellate (Adjective): Relating to or dealing with appeals.

  • The appellate court will review the decision.

Synonyms

• Noun (Request): Plea, entreaty, petition.
• Noun (Attractiveness): Allure, charm, attractiveness.
• Verb (Request): Plead, implore, beseech.
• Verb (Attract): Attract, interest, tempt.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Appeal to:
  • To make a request to a person or group.

    • They appealed to the government for aid.
  • To be attractive or interesting to someone.

    • This music appeals to a younger audience.
  • To cite or invoke something (e.g., a law, emotion, principle).

    • The speaker appealed to logic rather than emotion.

Related Idioms

• "Fall on deaf ears" (often describes an unsuccessful appeal): To be ignored.

  • Their appeals for peace fell on deaf ears.

• "A last appeal" / "A final appeal": A final, urgent request.

  • This is our final appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Noun

1. request for a sum of money
   • an appeal to raise money for starving children
2. (law) a legal proceeding in which the appellant resorts to a higher court for the purpose of obtaining a review of a lower court decision and a reversal of the lower court's judgment or the granting of a new trial
   • their appeal was denied in the superior court
3. attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
   • his smile was part of his appeal to her
4. earnest or urgent request
   • an entreaty to stop the fighting
   • an appeal for help
   • an appeal to the public to keep calm

Verb

1. cite as an authority; resort to
   • He invoked the law that would save him
   • I appealed to the law of 1900
   • She invoked an ancient law
2. challenge (a decision)
   • She appealed the verdict
3. be attractive to
   • The idea of a vacation appeals to me
   • The beautiful garden attracted many people
4. request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection
   • appeal to somebody for help
   • Invoke God in times of trouble
5. take a court case to a higher court for review
   • He was found guilty but appealed immediately