DictionaryAI

seem

verb
SEEM/siːm/

Formsseems, seeming, seemed

3 meanings of seem

Practice

  1. 1
    appearverbintransitive
    To give the outward impression of being something; to appear to be a certain way.

    The negotiations seem to be heading toward a deal.

    Her explanation seemed reasonable at first, but doubts grew later.

    UsageFollowed by an adjective or to + verb: seems tired, seems to be heading; also it seems that and it seems like.

    Similarappear, look, sound

  2. 2
    despite tryingverbintransitive
    After can't, couldn't or a similar negative, used to show that someone fails to manage something despite making an effort.

    No matter how many times she restarted the laptop, she couldn't seem to get it back online.

    The committee can't seem to agree on a date for the reunion.

    UsageSounds mildly frustrated, usually after several tries: I can't seem to get it working.

    Similarmanage

    Note

    The negative lands in an odd place: I can't seem to find my keys puts not on can, yet what it means is that I seem unable to find them.

  3. 3
    verbobsolete
    To be fitting or appropriate for a person or occasion.
    And all within were pathes and alleies wide, With footing worne, and leading inward farre: Faire harbour that them seemes; so in they entred arre.
    1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene
    Note

    The meaning closest to the word's roots: Old Norse sœma meant "to conform to, befit," from a Germanic verb for uniting or fitting. Here seem takes the person as its object. Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene (1590) calls a shelter fair "that them seemes," meaning one that suits them. Today you would write befit, and in older texts it helps to set aside the "appear" meaning.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 6 facts

    • The fitting sense reflects the Old Norse source meaning. en.wiktionary.org
    • The Old Norse word derives from a Germanic verb meaning to unite or fit. en.wiktionary.org
    • In the cited construction, seem means befit and takes the people concerned as its object. en.wiktionary.org
    • Edmund Spenser wrote The Faerie Queene; its first three books were first published in 1590. en.wikipedia.org
    • The 1590 text describes shelter with the exact words 'that them seemes'. en.wikisource.org
    • The quotation illustrates the sense 'suits them'. en.wiktionary.org

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of seem apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Middle English "semen" (to seem, befit), from Old Norse "sœma" (to conform to, befit), which traces back to Proto-Germanic "*sōmijaną" (to unite, fit) and the Proto-Indo-European root "*sem-" (one, whole). It is related to words like Old Norse "sómi" (honour) and Old English "sēman" (to reconcile).

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

  • Seem comes through Middle English semen, meaning seem or befit, from Old Norse sœma, meaning conform to or befit. en.wiktionary.org
  • The reconstructed Germanic ancestor is *sōmijaną, meaning unite or fit. en.wiktionary.org
  • The Germanic verb traces back to the reconstructed Indo-European root *sem-, meaning one or whole. en.wiktionary.org
  • Seem is related to Old Norse sómi, meaning honour. en.wiktionary.org
  • Old English sēman is related and means reconcile or bring to agreement. en.wiktionary.org