seemingly

British  

/ ˈsiːmɪŋlɪ /

adverb

1. in appearance but not necessarily in actuality

   with seemingly effortless ease

2. (sentence modifier) apparently; as far as one knows

   seemingly, he had few friends left

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Explanation

Something seemingly true appears to be true. Use the adverb seemingly when you want to say "on the face of it" or "apparently." The word seemingly refers to how things look on the surface — how they seem — and it often suggests there's more to the story. A seemingly broken ankle might actually be sprained, and a seemingly rich man might actually be deeply in debt. While your dog is seemingly well-behaved, he may be eating the garbage when you're not home. Seemingly means about the same as apparently, ostensibly, or surely.

Example Sentences

McIlroy was seemingly ready to charge when he too reached three under with a birdie on the eighth but his wedge play cost him dearly.

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2026

They brandished the Mexican flag seemingly everywhere: on banners, painted on cheeks, emblazoned on Jaimes’ tube top.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

Despite their seemingly simple narratives, the books address eternal themes: birth, death, rebellion and forgiveness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

And Micron is getting a seemingly relentless boost from the memory-chip shortage.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

The long body glided by with the power of one hundred Olympic swimmers, seemingly with zero effort.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen