seeming

1 of 2

noun

seem·​ing ˈsē-miŋ 

: external appearance as distinguished from true character : look

seeming

2 of 2

adjective

: outwardly or superficially evident but not true or real

the seeming immortality of our heroes

Synonyms of seeming

Noun

• appearance
• face
• impression
• effect
• show
• semblance

Adjective

• apparent
• presumed
• possible
• obvious
• probable

Choose the Right Synonym for seeming

apparent, illusory, seeming, ostensible mean not actually being what appearance indicates.

apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

Examples of seeming in a Sentence

Noun

her altruism is all seeming—she cares only about herself

Adjective

Parents discussed the teacher's seeming lack of interest in the students.

I was fooled by the seeming simplicity of the instructions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Little matchsticks lie flat on its surface, and then suddenly pop up and jitter across its surface, only to fall again, in seeming exhaustion. —Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026

To remedy this seeming deficiency in power, the marque’s then-head of racing, Erich Waxenberger, set up a skunkworks program to create a more potent Pagoda. —Brett Berk, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Despite some obvious physical scarring and a seeming predilection for contorting her body in creepy ways, Katie seems pretty healthy, or so the Egyptian doctors tell her parents. —Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

The Christophers is one of those compact pictures Soderbergh tosses out every year with the seeming effortlessness of someone making a stack of pancakes. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1557, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for seeming

• beaming
• creaming
• deeming
• dreaming
• gleaming
• leaming
• reaming
• scheming
• screaming
• seaming
• steaming
• streaming

Kids Definition

seeming

adjective

seem·​ing

ˈsē-miŋ

: appearing to be real or true : apparent

suspicious of their seeming enthusiasm

seemingly adverb