seeming

[ see-ming ]

adjective

1. apparent; appearing, whether truly or falsely, to be as specified:

   a seeming advantage.

   Synonyms: superficial, external, ostensible

noun

1. appearance, especially outward or deceptive appearance.

   Synonyms: pretense, face, semblance

seeming

/ ˈsiːmɪŋ /

adjective

1. prenominal apparent but not actual or genuine

   seeming honesty

noun

1. outward or false appearance

Derived Forms

• ˈseemingness, noun

Other Words From

• seeming·ly adverb
• seeming·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of seeming¹

1300–50; Middle English semynge; seem, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Some have innocuous-seeming URLs like cardpool.com or giftcardgranny.com, which cloak the sinister operations.

From The Daily Beast

Four, the recruitment by the Republicans of affable-seeming candidates who had some discipline drilled into them.

From The Daily Beast

Is there some kind of rapport that makes it okay to convey this without seeming like a threat?

From The Daily Beast

Her problem is when can she and Justin T get married now, in the foreseeable future, without it all seeming a bit “Hello, us too”?

From The Daily Beast

And yet, you can appear outwardly perfect, seeming to have it all together.

From The Daily Beast

Alone the supreme Self in him looked calmly on, seeming to lessen the part that trembled and knew fear.

From Project Gutenberg

She stopped, and turned to face him, an incredible shyness seeming to cause her to avoid his gaze.

From Project Gutenberg

Their obstreperous loyalty might seem inconsistent with this unideal character, but it is only seeming.

From Project Gutenberg

With her little satin shoe she tapped the carpet, biting her under lip and seeming to be listening.

From Project Gutenberg

"I had hoped you would have saved me from it, Marius," she answered him, her eyes seeming to gaze down into the depths of his.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• professed