seem

/sim/

/sim/

Other forms: seemed; seems; seeming

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."

Definitions of seem

1. verb

   give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
   “She seems to be sleeping”

   synonyms: appear, look

   types:

   make

   appear to begin an activity

   cut

   give the appearance or impression of

   feel

   produce a certain impression

   pass off

   be accepted as something or somebody in a false character or identity

   sound

   appear in a certain way

   come across

   be perceived in a certain way; make a certain impression

   beam, glow, radiate, shine

   have a complexion with a strong bright color, such as red or pink

   gleam, glint, glisten, glitter, shine

   be shiny, as if wet

   jump, jump out, leap out, stand out, stick out

   be highly noticeable

   lift, rear, rise

   rise up

   loom

   come into view indistinctly, often threateningly

   feel

   be felt or perceived in a certain way

   spangle

   glitter as if covered with spangles

   hulk, loom, predominate, tower

   appear very large or occupy a commanding position

   shimmer

   give off a shimmering reflection, as of silk

   crawl

   feel as if crawling with insects

   type of:

   be

   have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
2. verb

   appear to one's own mind or opinion
   “I seem to be misunderstood by everyone”

   “I can't seem to learn these Chinese characters”

   type of:

   appear

   seem to be true, probable, or apparent
3. verb

   seem to be true, probable, or apparent
   “It seems that he is very gifted”

   synonyms: appear

   type of:

   be

   have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
4. verb

   appear to exist
   “There seems no reason to go ahead with the project now”

   type of:

   be

   have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)