The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SEEMS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
E
E
M
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "appears" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case appears = seems.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SEEMS mean?
SEEMS verb- To appear; to look outwardly; to be perceived as.
- To befit; to beseem.