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

The last two sales seasons at the auction houses have seemingly driven home this desire for trophy works—A-plus material. —Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026

The Rabbit Hole is more playful, with its games room, pool table, ping pong and private bar, seemingly designed for long nights and bad decisions. —Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 15 June 2026

In addition to digital distractions, the show's hosts have paused to address a variety of phenomena both from this realm and, seemingly, the paranormal sector. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026

Remember earlier this year, when Tyler Reddick was winning all the races and Denny Hamlin was seemingly the second-best driver on his own team? —Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above