seem

verb

ˈsēm 

seemed; seeming; seems

intransitive verb

1

: to appear to the observation or understanding

2

: to give the impression of being

Synonyms of seem

• look
• feel
• sound
• appear

Examples of seem in a Sentence

What they're doing doesn't seem right to me.

I tried to cheer them up because they seemed depressed.

Recent Examples on the Web

The captain also saw what everyone else did on Saturday, too — Michkov’s confidence seems to be on the rise. —Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025

The Missouri Tigers just can’t seem to get past these Aggies. —Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025

The fall of Pokrovsk – the strategic value of which has already been greatly diminished, but which would nevertheless represent the biggest win for Moscow since 2023 – now seems almost inevitable, according to those on the ground. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025

This character of aberrance is what makes accidental surfing deaths seem inevitable—or, rather, inexorable, built into the subway’s force. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English semen to appear to be, be fitting, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sœma to honor, sœmr fitting, samr same — more at same

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seem

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• dream
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• scream
• seam

Kids Definition

seem

verb

ˈsēm 

1

: to give the impression of being : appear

the request seems reasonable

2

a

: to appear to a person's own mind or opinion

can't seem to solve the problem

b

: to appear to be

there seems no reason for worry