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

Maxi and midi skirts are my (and seemingly Stewart’s) go-tos, but sometimes a mini skirt just hits. —Annie Blackman, InStyle, 25 May 2026

He was seemingly born healthy, aside from minor breathing difficulties. —Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026

Plus, with over 2,000 municipalities, Switzerland offers a seemingly endless number of day trips and pit stops. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2026

These seemingly small actions can lead to dry grass ignition, potentially sparking a wildfire. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above