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

---

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

The home has seemingly found a new buyer and is pending sale, according to property records.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

That seemingly contradictory cocktail might make her a patron saint for a generation lost to the norms but seeking what feels like meaning.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

What about the quest for supremacy, the seemingly eternal human desire to conquer the world?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

For now, the cease-fire is holding, both sides have seemingly avoided worst-case scenarios, and markets looked oversold before their recent upturn.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

The door to Mrs. Caruthers’s room swung open as Ophie approached, the seemingly frail old woman standing on the other side like an ill omen.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland