seem — to appear to be or give the impression of being
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to appear to be or give the impression of being
Pronunciation (IPA): /siːm/
Example Sentences
- My cat seems to understand Korean better than English.
- The meeting seems to be running late again.
- It seems like everyone except me knows the secret.
seem
VERB[/siːm/]
to appear to be or give the impression of being
The teenager seems to be studying but is secretly playing games
Steam rises up, seem like a dream
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'seem' derives from Old Norse 'soema', meaning 'to fit' or 'to befit'. The semantic evolution reflects a conceptual shift from the idea of something being suitable or appropriate to its modern sense of appearing or looking like something, as if one's outward appearance aligns or corresponds with inner reality.
Breakdown
Old Norse 'soema' (to fit, befit) → Middle English 'semen' → Modern English 'seem'. The root originally conveyed fitness or suitability before broadening to mean 'to appear' or 'to look'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat seems to understand Korean better than English.”
“The meeting seems to be running late again.”
“It seems like everyone except me knows the secret.”
“This homework seems impossible to finish tonight.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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