seem

verb

ˈsēm 

seemed; seeming; seems

intransitive verb

1

: to appear to the observation or understanding

2

: to give the impression of being

Synonyms

• act
• appear
• come across (as)
• come off (as)
• feel
• look
• make
• sound

Examples of seem in a Sentence

What they're doing doesn't seem right to me.

I tried to cheer them up because they seemed depressed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Providing vague or incomplete financial data, or worse, inflating numbers to seem more profitable, will only lead to a rejection. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

Daniel Ricciardo, though currently detached from Formula 1, represents the caliber of drivers that such teams aspire to attract, albeit the real likelihood of his participation seems negligible at present. —Alex Harrington, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024

The triumph of Donald Trump, who has pledged to increase fossil-fuel production and to (yet again) pull the U.S. out of the negotiating process, makes progress over the next four years seem unlikely. —Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024

No post-credits scene at all, which does seem sadly fitting for what is likely Sony’s last gasp at giving side Spidey characters like Venom and Morbius their own solo movies. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English semen to appear to be, be fitting, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sœma to honor, sœmr fitting, samr same — more at same

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

seem

verb

ˈsēm 

1

: to give the impression of being : appear

the request seems reasonable

2

a

: to appear to a person's own mind or opinion

can't seem to solve the problem

b

: to appear to be

there seems no reason for worry