seeming

1 of 2

noun

seem·​ing ˈsē-miŋ How to pronounce seeming (audio)
: 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
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
There, her singing was as flawless as ever, despite her seeming to work off a week’s worth of calories with every number that proceeded. Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024 The actor also said that some of the futuristic seeming technology topics covered in films can turn out to become reality more quickly than expected. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2024
Adjective
That night of violence — with its brutality and seeming lack of a motive — has shaken the community. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024 Political pressure will come to the Kremlin not just from opponents of the war but also from those dismayed by the military’s startling incompetence and seeming lack of determination. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for seeming 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seeming.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1557, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seeming was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near seeming

Cite this Entry

“Seeming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seeming. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

seeming

adjective
seem·​ing
ˈsē-miŋ
: appearing to be real or true : apparent
suspicious of their seeming enthusiasm
seemingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on seeming

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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