appeal

appealverb

To appeal is to ask a court to change a decision, to make someone want it, or to make a serious public request for help.

1. ask a courtask a court or an official to change a decision

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] law

   • She plans to appeal the court's decision. V + obj
   • He appealed against his sentence. V + prep + obj
   • The company is appealing to a higher court. V + prep + obj
   • They lost the case and decided not to appeal.

   Collocations

   verb + noun appeal a decision

   verb + preposition appeal against, appeal to

2. be attractivemake someone want to have, do, or take part in it

   intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • The quiet countryside appeals to many city dwellers. V + prep + obj
   • Does the idea appeal to you? V + prep + obj
   • Loud music doesn't appeal to everyone. V + prep + obj
   • Something about the plan appealed to her.

   Collocations

   verb + preposition appeal to

   Antonyms repel

3. public requestmake a serious public request for something, especially help or money

   intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + for + object + to-infinitive [V + for + obj + to-inf]

   • The charity is appealing for donations. V + prep + obj
   • Police appealed to the public for information. V + prep + obj
   • She appealed for calm during the meeting. V + prep + obj
   • Officials appealed for witnesses to come forward. V + for + obj + to-inf

   Collocations

   verb + preposition appeal for, appeal to

See also attract