How to sign “Appeared” in ASL

Everyday Life

The BSL sign for “Appeared” isn't in our dictionary yet — it will be fingerspelled in BSL mode, never replaced with this ASL sign.

Step by step

  1. Extend the index finger of your dominant hand, curling the rest of the fingers into a fist.
  2. Hold your non-dominant hand flat and horizontal with the palm facing down.
  3. Push your dominant index finger straight up between the fingers of the flat base hand.
  4. Make the pop-up quick and sudden, as if the finger is surprising everyone by surfacing.
  5. Keep your dominant palm facing sideways while the finger shoots upward through the base hand.
  6. Raise your eyebrows with a slightly startled look — something has just turned up.

Practice tip

Past form of “Appear” — signed with the base sign; time is shown separately, not on the verb.

Fingerspell “Appeared”

Letter by letter — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.

ASL handshape for letter AASL handshape for letter PASL handshape for letter PASL handshape for letter EASL handshape for letter AASL handshape for letter RASL handshape for letter EASL handshape for letter D

See all ASL handshapes in the alphabet reference

Text-based guide researched from established ASL references (Lifeprint, university and public-health materials) and rewritten in original words. Signer-created photos and videos are a planned future upgrade.

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