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
appealed; appealing; appeals
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
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
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
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Biden has been absent from the campaign trail since then, but Martin said that Biden had lent his name to some fundraising appeals, and that he has been restricted by treatments for cancer.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Combs’ lawyers filed a two-page court document on Monday, October 20 intending to appeal his conviction.
—Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appeal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
His latest appeal was denied for review by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in May 2025, at which time Zellner announced her intent to file a petition in federal court, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Biden has been absent from the campaign trail since then, but Martin said that Biden had lent his name to some fundraising appeals, and that he has been restricted by treatments for cancer.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
The decision will be appealed, a spokesperson for Peteski told The Hollywood Reporter.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Combs’ lawyers filed a two-page court document on Monday, October 20 intending to appeal his conviction.
—Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appeal
Cite this Entry
“Appeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appeal. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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 verb1
: 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.
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)
: 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
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