apparent

apparent — adjective

1. Something that is apparent can be noticed clearly, either with your eyes or by t

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Something that is apparent can be noticed clearly, either with your eyes or by thinking about a situation — for example, a crack on a wall you can see, or a problem you understand once the facts are explained.

例句

The crack in the wall became apparent when sunlight hit the kitchen each morning.

subject + become apparent + when-clause

It was apparent to Mei that her grandmother was tired after the long train ride.

it is/was apparent to [person] + that-clause

同義詞
  • obvious

    more everyday and stronger; 'apparent' often suggests something noticed only after observation

  • evident

    very close in meaning, slightly more formal in tone

  • clear

    broader and more common; works in casual speech where 'apparent' sounds stiff

反義詞
  • hidden

    describes things that cannot be noticed at all

  • unclear

    describes things that exist but are hard to understand

文法句型

it is apparent that ...

apparent to someone

用法筆記

Most often predicative ('was apparent', 'became apparent') and frequently followed by a that-clause or 'to + person'. The phrase 'no apparent reason / cause / sign' is a fixed pattern worth memorising.

常見錯誤

❌The mistake was apparent of everyone.
✅The mistake was apparent to everyone.
💡use 'to' for the person who notices, not 'of'.
❌I felt an apparent pain in my knee.
✅I felt a sharp pain in my knee.
💡'apparent' describes what others can notice, not what the speaker physically feels.

2. Used before a noun to describe how something looks or feels at first, while warn

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Used before a noun to describe how something looks or feels at first, while warning the reader that the truth behind it might be different — for example, an apparent victory that turns out to be a draw, or someone's apparent kindness that hides another motive.

例句

Despite his apparent calm, Daniel's hands were shaking under the table during the interview.

attributive: apparent + abstract noun, contrasted with reality

The team's apparent victory turned into a draw after the referee reviewed the final goal.

apparent victory / win / success — outcome later reversed

同義詞
  • seeming

    very close match; slightly more formal and bookish

  • ostensible

    formal; stresses that the stated reason hides the real one

  • outward

    highlights what is shown on the surface versus inside

反義詞
  • real

    the truth behind the appearance

  • actual

    what is genuinely the case

文法句型

apparent + noun

用法筆記

Almost always sits directly before a noun (attributive). Distinguishes this sense from sense 1, which is mainly predicative. The writer is signalling doubt — pair with nouns like 'calm', 'success', 'ease', 'kindness', 'recovery'.

常見錯誤

❌His success was apparent, but later he failed.
✅His success was only apparent; later he failed.
💡for the 'seeming' meaning, place 'apparent' before the noun or add 'only' to flag the doubt.