Definition of 'seem'

Word Frequency

seem

(siːm )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense seems , present participle seeming , past tense, past participle seemed

1. link verb [no cont]

You use seem to say that someone or something gives the impression of having a particular quality, or of happening in the way you describe.

We heard a series of explosions. They seemed quite close by. [VERB adjective]

Everyone seems busy except us. [VERB adjective]

To everyone who knew them, they seemed an ideal couple. [VERB noun]

£50 seems a lot to pay. [VERB noun]

The calming effect seemed to last for about ten minutes. [VERB to-infinitive]

It was a record that seemed beyond reach. [VERB preposition]

The proposal seems designed to break opposition to the government's economic programme. [VERB-ed]

It seems that the attack this morning was very carefully planned to cause few casualties. [VERB that]

It seems clear that he has no reasonable alternative. [V adj that]

It seemed as if she'd been gone forever. [V as if]

There seems to be a lot of support in Congress for this move. [VERB to-infinitive]

There seems no possibility that such action can be averted. [VERB noun]

This phenomenon is not as outrageous as it seems. [VERB]

Synonyms: appear, give the impression of being, look, sound More Synonyms of seem

2. link verb [no cont]

You use seem when you are describing your own feelings or thoughts, or describing something that has happened to you, in order to make your statement less forceful.

[vagueness]

I seem to have lost all my self-confidence. [VERB to-infinitive]

I seem to remember giving you very precise instructions. [VERB to-infinitive]

I seemed to have contracted the stomach problem. [VERB to-infinitive]

Excuse me, I seem to be a little bit lost. [VERB to-infinitive]

See cannot seem

4. See also seeming

English Easy Learning GrammarTypes and forms of a main verbWhat are the types of main verb in English?
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Video: pronunciation of
seem

seem in British English

(siːm )

verb (may take an infinitive)

1. (copula)

to appear to the mind or eye; look

this seems nice

the car seems to be running well

to give the impression of existing; appear to be

there seems no need for all this nonsense

used to diminish the force of a following infinitive to be polite, more noncommittal, etc

I can't seem to get through to you

▶ USAGE See note at like1

Derived forms

seemer (ˈseemer)

noun

Word origin

C12: perhaps from Old Norse soma to beseem, from sœmr befitting; related to Old English sēman to reconcile; see same

Word Frequency

seem in American English

(sim )

verb intransitive

to appear to be; have the look of being

to seem happy

to appear; give the impression

usually followed by an infinitive

he seems to know the facts

to have the impression; think

followed by an infinitive

I seem to have lost it

to appear to exist

there seems no point in going

to be apparently true

it seems he was here

Word origin

ME semen, prob. < ON sœma, to conform to (akin to OE seman, to bring to agreement) < IE base *sem- > same

Word Frequency

seem in American English

(sim)

intransitive verb

to appear to be, feel, do, etc

She seems better this morning

to appear to one's own senses, mind, observation, judgment, etc

It seems to me that someone is calling

to appear to exist

There seems no need to go now

to appear to be true, probable, or evident

It seems likely to rain

to give the outward appearance of being or to pretend to be

He only seems friendly because he wants you to like him

Word origin

[1150–1200; ME seme ‹ ON sœma to befit, beseem, deriv. of sœmr fitting, seemly; akin to sōmi honor]

Examples of 'seem' in a sentence
seem

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Everyone seems to want a piece of him.This seems to have given it a chance to rest and recover.We seemed to get on well together.Your sight and hearing may seem very sharp.We cannot tell anyone what happened to us and it seems that the couple have extra rights.The government seems to be preparing to do just that.We got on so well it seemed natural to get close on the sofa.There seems something so poignant about it all.They suddenly seem a lot more earthy.Why do humans seem to need sacred time?

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seem

British English: seem /siːm/ VERB

You use seem to say that someone or something gives the impression of having a particular quality, or that something gives the impression of happening in the way you describe.

Everyone seems busy.