seemingly

adverb

seem·​ing·​ly ˈsē-miŋ-lē 

: outwardly or apparently

—used to indicate how something appears or seems

a seemingly simple problem [=a problem that seems simple]

a seemingly endless project [=a project that seems to have no end]

The balance of nature—an ideal state in which every species is in its right place—is seemingly being upended.

—Bryan Walsh

These were years in which seemingly every city authority from Adelaide to Oslo had set its heart on the construction of an unsurpassably iconic building …

—Ellis Woodman

Then, in 1929, taste arbiter Emily Post sanctioned a seemingly irreversible shift in manners: "No rule of etiquette is of less importance than which fork we use."

—Douglas Brenner

Dumbledore had most of the remaining Death Eaters grouped in the middle of the room, seemingly immobilized by invisible ropes.

—J. K. Rowling

Synonyms of seemingly

• apparently
• supposedly
• ostensibly
• evidently
• probably
• presumably

Examples of seemingly in a Sentence

a seemingly contented baby who was fast asleep in his crib

Recent Examples on the Web

And, somehow all over again, seemingly with plenty more to come. — Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

The countdown came after Swift's team seemingly added a third page to the letter Swift wrote to fans after buying back her life's work in May 2025. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

But while drama is normally great for reality TV, this kind of fighting is seemingly show-ending, as several cast members have either left the series or are questioning their future participation. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

The Bakers seemingly continued to try to enjoy life together after the crash, with Joanne sharing about their road trips to the Kennedy Space Center, Walt Disney World, Atlanta and Key West. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above