SEEM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does seem mean? 

• SEEM (verb)
  The verb SEEM has 4 senses:

1. give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

2. seem to be true, probable, or apparent

3. appear to exist

4. appear to one's own mind or opinion

  Familiarity information: SEEM used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SEEM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they seem    ... he / she / it seems   
Past simple: seemed   
Past participle: seemed   
-ing form: seeming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

appear; look; seem

Context example:

They appeared like people who had not eaten or slept for a long time

Hypernyms (to "seem" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "seem"):

make (appear to begin an activity)

cut (give the appearance or impression of)

feel (produce a certain impression)

pass off (be accepted as something or somebody in a false character or identity)

sound (appear in a certain way)

come across (be perceived in a certain way; make a certain impression)

beam; glow; radiate; shine (have a complexion with a strong bright color, such as red or pink)

gleam; glint; glisten; glitter; shine (be shiny, as if wet)

jump; jump out; leap out; stand out; stick out (be highly noticeable)

lift; rear; rise (rise up)

loom (come into view indistinctly, often threateningly)

feel (be felt or perceived in a certain way)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They seem to move

Sense 2

Meaning:

Seem to be true, probable, or apparent

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

appear; seem

Context example:

It appears that the weather in California is very bad

Hypernyms (to "seem" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "seem"):

seem (appear to one's own mind or opinion)

Sentence frame:

It ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 3

Meaning:

Appear to exist

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

There seems no reason to go ahead with the project now

Hypernyms (to "seem" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Appear to one's own mind or opinion

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

I can't seem to learn these Chinese characters

Hypernyms (to "seem" is one way to...):

appear; seem (seem to be true, probable, or apparent)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

 Context examples 

I will let the old lady in; she seems to be a very good sort of body, thought Snowdrop, as she ran down and unbolted the door.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

He seemed to be a person of few words.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was strange to see Jim with his uncle and his aunt, for he seemed to be of another race and breed to them.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Even if it seems to tell against him, go on.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Peggotty, who was also looking back on the other side, seemed anything but satisfied; as the face she brought back in the cart denoted.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The two who were left guarding their boats seemed in a bustle at our appearance; “Lillibullero” stopped off, and I could see the pair discussing what they ought to do.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Getting a vacancy did not seem to be such a very easy matter, after all.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"It seems to me I can scarcely wait till I get to Oz, and you must admit this is a very long journey."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Did upon my soul; knew him again directly, and he seemed to have got some very pretty cattle too.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

It seems as if I could do anything when I'm in a passion.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)