What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
appear
Example
The sun will appear from behind the clouds soon. [appear: verb]
Example
He suddenly appeared at the door, surprising everyone. [appeared: past tense]
emerge
Example
The moon emerged from behind the mountains, illuminating the night sky. [emerge: verb]
Example
A new talent emerged during the singing competition. [emerged: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Appear is more commonly used than emerge in everyday language. Appear is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while emerge is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between appear and emerge?
Both appear and emerge can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, appear is generally considered more formal, while emerge can be used in a slightly more casual tone.
