The playground 'gives every appearance of' being a safe place for children [=the playground appears to be a safe place for children], but a tragic accident occurred there recently.
He has announced that this will be his final/last 'appearance' with the band. [=the last time that he will perform in public with the band]
I wasn't expecting him to come and was surprised by his sudden 'appearance'. [=I was surprised when he suddenly appeared/arrived]
(..) the very foundations of Christianity. Wait, please. You're saying the Holy Grail is a person? A woman? And it turns out, she makes an appearance right there. But they are all men. Are they? What about that figure on the right hand of our Lord... ...seated in the place of honour? (..)2006 The Da Vinci Code