apparent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
    evident; patent; plain; unmistakable; manifest.
    • the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields
    • evident hostility
    • manifest disapproval
    • patent advantages
    • made his meaning plain
    • it is plain that he is no reactionary
    • in plain view
  2. adjective satellite appearing as such but not necessarily so
    ostensible; seeming.
    • for all his apparent wealth he had no money to pay the rent
    • the committee investigated some apparent discrepancies
    • the ostensible truth of their theories
    • his seeming honesty

WordNet

Ap*par"ent adjective
Etymology
F. apparent, L. apparens, -entis, p. pr. of apparere. See Appear.
Definitions
  1. Capable of being seen, or easily seen; open to view; visible to the eye; within sight or view.
    The moon . . . apparent queen. Milton.
  2. Clear or manifest to the understanding; plain; evident; obvious; known; palpable; indubitable.
    It is apparent foul play. Shak.
  3. Appearing to the eye or mind (distinguished from, but not necessarily opposed to, true or real); seeming; as the apparent motion or diameter of the sun.
    To live on terms of civility, and even of apparent friendship. Macaulay.
    What Berkeley calls visible magnitude was by astronomers called apparent magnitude. Reid.
    Syn. -- Visible; distinct; plain; obvious; clear; certain; evident; manifest; indubitable; notorious.
Ap*par"ent noun
Definitions
  1. An heir apparent. Obs.
    I'll draw it [the sword] as apparent to the crown. Shak.

Webster 1913