seem

UK: siːm | US: siːm

Definition

  1. vi. to give the impression of being or doing something

  2. vi. to appear to exist or be true

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

The word "seem" traces back to Old Norse sœma ("to honor, conform to") and Old English sēman ("to reconcile, settle"). Over time, its meaning shifted from "to be fitting" to "to appear to be," reflecting a subtle evolution from external conformity to subjective perception. The word retains its compact Germanic structure without clear morpheme boundaries.

Examples

  1. She seems tired after the long journey.

  2. The solution seems simple, but it’s actually complex.

  3. It seems like rain is coming soon.

  4. His story seems believable at first glance.

  5. They seem to have forgotten the meeting time.