appeal

noun

A call to a person or an authority for a decision, help, or proof; an entreaty, an invocation.

(figuratively) A power to attract or interest.

(cricket) The act, by the fielding side, of asking an umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out or not.

(law) A person's legal right to apply to court for such a review.

(law) An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.

(law) The legal document or form by which such an application is made; also, the court case in which the application is argued.

(figuratively) A resort to some physical means; a recourse.

(rhetoric) A call to, or the use of, a principle or quality for purposes of persuasion.

(law) (historical) An accusation or charge against someone for wrongdoing (especially treason).

(law) (historical) A process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offence against the public; an accusation.

(law) (historical) At common law, an accusation made against a felon by one of their accomplices (called an approver).

(historical) A summons to defend one's honour in a duel, or one's innocence in a trial by combat; a challenge.

verb

(intransitive) To call upon someone for a favour, help, etc.

(intransitive) To call upon a person or an authority to corroborate a statement, to decide a controverted question, or to vindicate one's rights; to entreat, to invoke.

(intransitive, figuratively) To be attractive.

(law) (intransitive) Often followed by against (the inferior court's decision) or to (the superior court): to apply to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.

(law) (transitive, originally US) To apply to a superior court or judge to review and overturn (a decision or order by an inferior court or judge).

(intransitive, cricket) Of a fielding side; to ask an umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out or not, usually by saying "How's that?" or "Howzat?".

(intransitive, figuratively) To have recourse or resort to some physical means.

(law) (transitive, historical) To accuse or charge (someone) with wrongdoing (especially treason).

(law) (transitive, historical) Of a private person: to instituted legal proceedings (against another private person) for some heinous crime, demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered.

(law) (transitive, historical) Of the accomplice of a felon: to make an accusation at common law against (the felon).

(transitive, historical) To summon (someone) to defend their honour in a duel, or their innocence in a trial by combat; to challenge.

Roots

pello-peal · Latin · drive, push

Synonyms for appeal

entreatyn solicitationn certiorarin attractv invokev charmn plean requestn winsomenessn

Synonyms & related words for appeal

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Words related to appeal

Explore words related to appeal — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include appealable, appellate, rehearing, petitioning, appellant, interplead, controverted, unappealable. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for appeal

Common synonyms for appeal include entreaty, solicitation, certiorari, attract, invoke, charm, plea, request — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does appeal come from?

The word appeal breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root -peal, from Latin pello (“drive, push”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.