seem
SEEM
Seem (verb) means to give the impression of being something; to appear to be. Example: “The shop seemed empty when we arrived, but a man appeared from the back.”
verb
1
To give the impression of being something; to appear to be.
"The shop seemed empty when we arrived, but a man appeared from the back."
"She seems happy with her new job."
"It seems like it might rain later."
How to use seem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo appear to be a certain way, without necessarily being certain that it is true.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
seem to be
it seems that
seem like
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- seems
- Past tense
- seemed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The shop _____ empty when we arrived, but a man appeared from the back.
Etymology
From Old Norse soema, "to conform to, befit," related to Old English seman, "to reconcile."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for seem
See all rhymes for seem →Frequently asked questions
What does “seem” mean?
The word “seem” means to give the impression of being something; to appear to be. In plain terms, to appear to be a certain way, without necessarily being certain that it is true.
How do you pronounce “seem”?
“Seem” is pronounced SEEM (/ˈsiːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “seem” in a sentence?
Here is “seem” used in a sentence: “She seems happy with her new job.”
What part of speech is “seem”?
“Seem” is a verb.
Where does the word “seem” come from?
The word “seem” comes from Old English. From Old Norse soema, "to conform to, befit," related to Old English seman, "to reconcile.".
Is “seem” a common word?
“Seem” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between seem and appear?
Seem and appear both mean to give an impression rather than state a certain fact, and they are often interchangeable. Appear can lean more towards what is visible to the eye, while seem often covers impressions from any source, including feelings and reasoning. In most sentences either works comfortably.
What is the difference between seem and be?
To seem something is to give the impression of it, which may or may not be true. To be something states it as fact. "He seems tired" describes how he looks or comes across; "he is tired" asserts it directly. Seem leaves room for doubt that be does not.
What is an example of seem used in a sentence?
You might say, "She seems happy today," or "It seems like a good idea." In each case, seem signals an impression rather than a firm fact, describing how something looks or feels rather than confirming that it definitely is that way.
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