appealing

Appealing is the present participle of the verb appeal and an English adjective. As an adjective, appealing describes something that is attractive, interesting, or likely to evoke a positive response. As a verb form, appealing can describe the act of making a formal request for a decision to be reconsidered, especially in legal or administrative contexts; for example, a party is appealing the ruling. In rhetoric, appeal is a method of influencing an audience, with appeals to emotion, credibility, or logic; items described as appealing may target those rhetorical channels.

The term covers several senses. Aesthetic appeal refers to visual or sensory attractiveness; practical or functional appeal refers to usefulness or convenience; social or moral appeal refers to values, norms, or ethics that resonate with an audience.

Etymology: appealing derives from appeal, from Latin appellare “to call upon, address,” via Old French and Middle English.

Usage notes: in everyday language, appealing is often used to indicate general attractiveness without specifying why. In professional contexts, pairing with nouns such as design, concept, or candidate clarifies the basis of appeal. Synonyms include attractive, engaging, inviting; antonyms include unappealing, unattractive, off-putting. In law, the related noun appeal refers to a formal review process, while appealing the decision denotes the act of challenging it.