seem
[ seem ]
/ sim /
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.
Origin of seem
1150–1200; Middle English
seme < Old Norse
sœma to befit, beseem, derivative of
sœmr fitting, seemly; akin to
sōmi honor
SYNONYMS 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
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; look
this seems nice; the car seems to be running well
to give the impression of existing; appear to be
there seems no need for all this nonsense
used to diminish the force of a following infinitive to be polite, more noncommittal, etc
I can't seem to get through to you
Derived forms of seem
seemer, nounWord 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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