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
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Noun
And thus also making a seeming admission of misjudgement. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 And then there’s Bigelow’s seeming return to Zero Dark Thirty terrain with an ensemble piece about an impending missile strike on America. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The insurer’s spokesperson declined an opportunity to clarify this seeming contradiction. Mario Ariza, ProPublica, 15 Sep. 2025 These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for seeming

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seeming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seeming. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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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