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

Given the way the entire month of April has gone for this team, the following seems entirely possible: The Stars have now lost eight straight games. —Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025

These fast-moving, Mid-Atlantic hurricanes seem to occur every 40 years or so, with 2003, 1933, 1896, 1893, and 1878 all being examples. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025

However, Grant's fit in Buffalo seems a little strange on paper. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025

However, the Royals’ offense has struggled so mightily in April that any disadvantage seems insurmountable. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for seem

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• dream
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• scream
• seam

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