seem
Americanverb (used without object)
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to appear to be, feel, do, etc..
She seems better this morning.
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to appear to one's own senses, mind, observation, judgment, etc..
It seems to me that someone is calling.
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to appear to exist.
There seems no need to go now.
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to appear to be true, probable, or evident.
It seems likely to rain.
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to give the outward appearance of being or to pretend to be.
He only seems friendly because he wants you to like him.
verb
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(copula) to appear to the mind or eye; look
this seems nice
the car seems to be running well
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to give the impression of existing; appear to be
there seems no need for all this nonsense
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used to diminish the force of a following infinitive to be polite, more noncommittal, etc
I can't seem to get through to you
Synonym Usage
Seem, appear, look refer to an outward aspect that may or may not be contrary to reality. Seem is applied to something that has an aspect of truth and probability: It seems warmer today. Appear suggests the giving of an impression that may be superficial or illusory: The house appears to be deserted. Look more vividly suggests the use of the eye (literally or figuratively) or the aspect as perceived by the eye: She looked very much frightened.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have seemedperfect
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has seemedperfect 3rd person singular
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are seemingprogressive
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have been seemingperfect progressive
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seemssingular 3rd person
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is seemingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been seemingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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seemingparticiple
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am seemingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had seemedperfect
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was seemingprogressive singular
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were seemingprogressive plural
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seemedsimple
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seemedparticiple
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had been seemingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of seem
First recorded before 1150–1200; Middle English seme, from Old Norse sœma “to befit, beseem,” derivative of sœmr “fitting, seemly”; akin to sōmi “honor”
Explanation
Seem means "to give a certain impression," usually by physical appearance like your messy hair and wrinkled clothing that made it seem like you just rolled out of bed. The verb seem has several definitions. It can mean "to be apparent, or probable," like the nice person you just met who seems like he'll make a good friend. Seem can also mean "to appear to exist," like when heat shimmering on pavement makes it seem like there is a puddle on the road. The word comes from the Old Norse word soema meaning "to befit, conform to."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fact the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial oil shipping route, remains effectively closed, and the path to AI profitably remains similarly hard to traverse, seem like subjects for another day.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
“It doesn’t seem unreasonable to say you’ve got to do some time here and demonstrate that you’re somebody that we want as a citizen.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Infantino's previous words now seem hollow when it comes to the US.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
The gift of sibling relationships can seem, to those of us on the outside, to come with a hefty dose of paradox.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Doesn’t seem to matter what I do, plants hate me.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
