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seem

[ seem ]
/ sim /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR seem ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to appear to be, feel, do, etc.: She seems better this morning.
to appear to one's own senses, mind, observation, judgment, etc.: It seems to me that someone is calling.
to appear to exist: There seems no need to go now.
to appear to be true, probable, or evident: It seems likely to rain.
to give the outward appearance of being or to pretend to be: He only seems friendly because he wants you to like him.

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a person given to voluble, empty talk.
an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.
a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
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Origin of seem

First recorded before1150–1200; Middle English seme, from Old Norse sœma “to befit, beseem,” derivative of sœmr “fitting, seemly”; akin to sōmi “honor”

synonym study for seem

4. 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.

Words nearby seem

seek out, seel, Seeland, seelie, seely, seem, seemer, seeming, seemingly, seemly, seen
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to seem

sound, suggest, imply, look, show, hint, assume, pretend, intimate, resemble, insinuate, look like

Example sentences from the Web for seem

British Dictionary definitions for seem

seem
/ (siːm) /

verb (may take an infinitive)

(copula) to appear to the mind or eye; lookthis seems nice; the car seems to be running well
to give the impression of existing; appear to bethere seems no need for all this nonsense
used to diminish the force of a following infinitive to be polite, more noncommittal, etcI can't seem to get through to you

Derived forms of seem

seemer, noun

Word Origin for seem

C12: perhaps from Old Norse soma to beseem, from sœmr befitting; related to Old English sēman to reconcile; see same

undefined seem

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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012