seem

verb

ˈsēm 

seemed; seeming; seems

intransitive verb

1

: to appear to the observation or understanding

2

: to give the impression of being

Synonyms of seem

• look
• feel
• sound
• appear

Examples of seem in a Sentence

What they're doing doesn't seem right to me.

I tried to cheer them up because they seemed depressed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Swinging away with the top button on his Cardinals jersey undone, the 24-year-old Walker seemed nonplussed by the jeers and the massive stage during All-Star Game festivities. — CBS News, 14 July 2026

Each puzzle has exactly one solution, so watch out for words or items that seem to belong to multiple categories! — Mark Cooper, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Joe knows a thing or two about picking up a love triangle on the job, but Luke’s behavior makes Joe seem like the second coming of John Stuart Mill. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026

While his friends—rounded out by Kaia Gerber as Susan Reynolds, Hayes Warner as Deborah Schaffer, and Graham Campbell as Thom Wright—seem unconcerned, Bret begins to unravel. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English semen to appear to be, be fitting, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sœma to honor, sœmr fitting, samr same — more at same

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seem

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• dream
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• scream
• seam

Kids Definition

seem

verb

ˈsēm 

1

: to give the impression of being : appear

the request seems reasonable

2

a

: to appear to a person's own mind or opinion

can't seem to solve the problem

b

: to appear to be

there seems no reason for worry