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

But Posey, the executive, seems content to manage a massive talent debt to the Dodgers that grows larger by the day. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026

At the surface, everything about Doug Moe — his teams, his manner, his dress sense — seemed to embody complete madness. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026

Gonez seemed to accept the staff’s explanation but voted against the cuts anyway. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

At that moment, her Olympic dreams seemed to be dashed. —Don Riddell, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026

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