seem

S0190100 (sēm)intr.v. seemed, seem·ing, seems 1. To give the impression of being in a certain way; appear to be: The child seems healthy, but the doctor is concerned. The house seems to be in good condition.2. Used to call attention to one's impression or understanding about something, especially in weakening the force of a following infinitive: I can't seem to get the story straight.3. To appear to be probable or evident: It seems you object to the plan. It seems like rain.

[Middle English semen, from Old Norse sœma, to conform to, from sœmr, fitting; see sem- in Indo-European roots.]

seem

(siːm) vb (may take an infinitive) 1. (copula) to appear to the mind or eye; look: this seems nice; the car seems to be running well. 2. to give the impression of existing; appear to be: there seems no need for all this nonsense. 3. used to diminish the force of a following infinitive to be polite, more noncommittal, etc: I can't seem to get through to you. [C12: perhaps from Old Norse soma to beseem, from sœmr befitting; related to Old English sēman to reconcile; see same] ˈseemer nUsage: See at like¹

seem

(sim)

v.i. 1. to appear to be, feel, do, etc. 2. to appear to one's own senses, judgment, etc. 3. to appear to be true or probable: It seems likely to rain. 4. to appear or pretend to be such: to seem friendly. [1150–1200; Middle English seme < Old Norse sŒma to befit, beseem, derivative of sŒmr fitting, seemly] syn: seem, appear, look refer to an outward aspect that may or may not be contrary to reality. seem is applied to something that has an aspect of truth and probability: It seems warmer today. appear suggests the giving of an impression that may be superficial or illusory: The house appears to be deserted. look more vividly suggests the use of the eye (literally or figuratively) or the aspect as perceived by the eye: She looked frightened.

seem

You use seem to say that someone or something gives a particular impression.

1. used with adjectives

Seem is usually followed by an adjective. If someone gives the impression of being happy, you can say that they seem happy. You can also say that they seem to be happy. There is no difference in meaning.

Even minor problems seem important.You seem to be very interested.

If the adjective is a non-gradable adjective such as alone or alive, you usually use seem to be. For example, you say 'He seemed to be alone'. You don't say 'He seemed alone'.

She seemed to be asleep.

In order to say who has an impression of someone or something, use seem followed by an adjective and the preposition to.

He always seemed old to me.This idea seems ridiculous to most people.2. used with noun phrases

Instead of an adjective, you can use a noun phrase after seem or seem to be. For example, instead of saying 'She seemed nice', you can say 'She seemed a nice person' or 'She seemed to be a nice person'. In conversation and in less formal writing, people often say 'She seemed like a nice person'.

It seemed a long time before the food came.She seems to be a very good boss.It seemed like a good idea.

Be Careful!
Don't use 'as' after seem. Don't say, for example, 'It seemed as a good idea'.

If the noun phrase contains a determiner such as the or a but not an adjective, you must use seemed to be. For example, say 'He seemed to be the owner of the car'. Don't say 'He seemed the owner of the car'.

At first the seal seemed to be a rock.What seems to be the trouble?3. used with verbs

You can use other to-infinitives besides 'to be' after seem. For example, you can say 'He seemed to need help'. You can also say 'It seemed that he needed help' or 'It seemed as though he needed help'.

The experiments seem to prove that sugar is bad for you.It seemed to me that she was right.It seemed as though the war had ended.

seem

Past participle: seemed
Gerund: seeming

Imperative
seem
seem

Present
I seem
you seem
he/she/it seems
we seem
you seem
they seem

Preterite
I seemed
you seemed
he/she/it seemed
we seemed
you seemed
they seemed

Present Continuous
I am seeming
you are seeming
he/she/it is seeming
we are seeming
you are seeming
they are seeming

Present Perfect
I have seemed
you have seemed
he/she/it has seemed
we have seemed
you have seemed
they have seemed

Past Continuous
I was seeming
you were seeming
he/she/it was seeming
we were seeming
you were seeming
they were seeming

Past Perfect
I had seemed
you had seemed
he/she/it had seemed
we had seemed
you had seemed
they had seemed

Future
I will seem
you will seem
he/she/it will seem
we will seem
you will seem
they will seem

Future Perfect
I will have seemed
you will have seemed
he/she/it will have seemed
we will have seemed
you will have seemed
they will have seemed

Future Continuous
I will be seeming
you will be seeming
he/she/it will be seeming
we will be seeming
you will be seeming
they will be seeming

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been seeming
you have been seeming
he/she/it has been seeming
we have been seeming
you have been seeming
they have been seeming

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been seeming
you will have been seeming
he/she/it will have been seeming
we will have been seeming
you will have been seeming
they will have been seeming

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been seeming
you had been seeming
he/she/it had been seeming
we had been seeming
you had been seeming
they had been seeming

Conditional
I would seem
you would seem
he/she/it would seem
we would seem
you would seem
they would seem

Past Conditional
I would have seemed
you would have seemed
he/she/it would have seemed
we would have seemed
you would have seemed
they would have seemed

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	seem - give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect; "She seems to be sleeping"; "This appears to be a very difficult problem"; "This project looks fishy"; "They appeared like people who had not eaten or slept for a long time"appear, lookmake - appear to begin an activity; "He made to speak but said nothing in the end"; "She made as if to say hello to us"cut - give the appearance or impression of; "cut a nice figure"feel - produce a certain impression; "It feels nice to be home again"pass off - be accepted as something or somebody in a false character or identity; "She passed off as a Russian agent"sound - appear in a certain way; "This sounds interesting"come across - be perceived in a certain way; make a certain impressionglow, radiate, beam, shine - have a complexion with a strong bright color, such as red or pink; "Her face glowed when she came out of the sauna"gleam, glint, glisten, glitter, shine - be shiny, as if wet; "His eyes were glistening"be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer"jump out, leap out, stand out, stick out, jump - be highly noticeablerear, rise, lift - rise up; "The building rose before them"loom - come into view indistinctly, often threateningly; "Another air plane loomed into the sky"feel - be felt or perceived in a certain way; "The ground feels shaky"; "The sheets feel soft"
	2.	seem - seem to be true, probable, or apparent; "It seems that he is very gifted"; "It appears that the weather in California is very bad"appearseem - appear to one's own mind or opinion; "I seem to be misunderstood by everyone"; "I can't seem to learn these Chinese characters"be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer"
	3.	seem - appear to exist; "There seems no reason to go ahead with the project now"be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer"
	4.	seem - appear to one's own mind or opinion; "I seem to be misunderstood by everyone"; "I can't seem to learn these Chinese characters"seem, appear - seem to be true, probable, or apparent; "It seems that he is very gifted"; "It appears that the weather in California is very bad"

seem

verb appear, give the impression of being, look, sound, look to be, show signs of being, sound as if you are, look as if you are, come across as being, look like you are, strike you as being, have the or every appearance of being Everyone seems busy except us.

seem

verbTo have the appearance of:appear, look, sound.Idiom: strike one as (being).

Translations

似乎好像

seem

(siːm) verb to have the appearance or give the impression of being or doing. A thin person always seems (to be) taller than he really is; She seems kind; He seemed to hesitate for a minute.好像ˈseeming adjective existing in appearance, though not usually in reality. her seeming indifference.表面上的ˈseemingly adverb apparently; according to report. Seemingly, her mother is very ill.表面上ˈseemly adjective (negative unseemly) (of behaviour etc) suitable, proper or decent. seemly conduct. 得体的，适宜的

seem

→ 似乎zhCN

seem

can't seem to

Apparently unable to or incapable of doing something. I've been over these figures three times, but I just can't seem to get them to add up. He couldn't seem to figure out how to work the machine.See also: seem

long shot

1. A bet that has a low probability of winning. That horse is a long shot, but the bet will pay well if he wins the race.2. Something that has a very small chance of succeeding. I know it's a long shot because of his busy schedule, but maybe I can convince him to help me with this project. Her candidacy was a long shot from the beginning, and her landslide defeat was no surprise.See also: long, shot

make (something) seem like a picnic

To be so difficult, complicated, or harmful as to make something else that is normally very difficult or negative seem easy, simple, or pleasant by comparison. If we don't act now, the financial crisis waiting for us will make the last recession seem like a picnic.See also: like, make, picnic, seem

out of place

1. Not in the usual or proper place. We need to put everything back perfectly—Mom and Dad will know if even one book is out of place. The detective noticed that the picture frame was out of place.2. Not appropriate for or fitting with the current surroundings or environment. I'm afraid your type of humor might be a little out of place in such a formal venue. I always felt out of place in school, like I was there by mistake. Their wild nautical-themed house is totally out of place in the neatly organized suburb.See also: of, out, place

pressed for time

Having a small or limited amount of time available; in a hurry. I'm sorry, I can't chat for long. I need to go pick up the kids, and I'm a bit pressed for time. Don't plan an elaborate meal if you're pressed for time—we can just order a pizza instead.See also: press, time

seem like (something)

To appear to be or give the impression of being a particular kind of person or thing. A: "Have you met Tom's new boyfriend?" B: "Yeah, he seems like a nice guy." Though it seemed like a good idea at the time, the direction we pursued with the company nearly bankrupted us.See also: like, seem

high-and-mighty

Fig. self-important and arrogant. I don't know why William is so high-and-mighty. He's no better than the rest of us. The boss acts high-and-mighty because he can fire us all.

*long shot

Fig. a risky bet; an attempt, bet, or proposition that has a low probability of success. (*Typically: be ~; seem like ~.) Your solution is a long shot, but we'll try it and hope it works.See also: long, shot

*oneself again

showing signs of being healthy again or restored. (*Typically: act like ~; be ~; feel like ~; seem like ~.) After such a longillness, it'sgoodto be myself again. I'm sorry that I lost my temper. I think I feel like myself again now.See also: again

*out of place

1. Lit. not in the proper place. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; knock something ~.) The book I wanted was out of place, and I almost did not find it. How did the furniture in this room get out of place? 2. Fig. inappropriate. (*Typically: be ~; Seem ~.) That kind of behavior is out of place at a party. Your crude language is out of place. 3. Fig. [of someone ] awkward and unwelcome. (*Typically: be ~; feel ~; seem ~.) I feel out of place at formal dances. Bob and Ann felt out of place at the picnic, so they went home.See also: of, out, place

*pressed for time

and *pushed for timeFig. needing time; in a hurry. (*Typically: be ~; become ~; get ~; Seem ~.) If I weren't so pressed for time, I could help you. I can't talk to you. I'm too pushed for time. Can't talk to you now. I'm pressed for time.See also: press, time

*putty in someone's hands

Fig. [of someone] easily influenced by someone else; excessively willing to do what someone else wishes. (Putty is soft and malleable. *Typically: be ~; seem like ~.) Bob's wife is putty in his hands. She never thinks for herself. Jane is putty in her mother's hands. She always does exactly what her mother says.See also: hand, putty

seem like someone or something

to appear to be like some kind of person or something. You seemed like such a nice person when I met you. This seems like a nice day.See also: like, seem

Things are seldom what they seem.

Prov. Things often appear different from what they really are. Emily seems to be a fine young lady, but be careful. Things are seldom what they seem. To judge from his elegant clothing and luxurious car, William was a wealthy man. But things are seldom what they seem; in fact, he was in desperate need of money.See also: seem, seldom, Thing, what

can't seem to

Be apparently unable to, as in No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to concentrate on this book. This phrase gives added emphasis to a negative statement, as in the example. [Late 1800s] See also: seem

out of place

Not in the proper situation, not belonging; inappropriate for the circumstances or location. For example, A high school graduate, she felt out of place among all these academics with advanced degrees , or This velvet sofa is out of place on the porch. This idiom uses place in the sense of "a fitting position." [First half of 1800s] See also: of, out, place

pressed for time

In a hurry, as in How long will it take? I'm really pressed for time. This idiom uses press in the sense of "subject to pressure," a usage dating from the late 1600s. See also: press, time

out of ˈplace

1 not in the correct place: Some of these files seem to be out place.
2 not suitable for a particular situation: Your silly remarks were completely out of place at such an important meeting. ♢ I feel quite out of place at a smart party like this.See also: of, out, place

long shot

n. a wild guess; an attempt at something that has little chance of succeeding. You shouldn’t expect a long shot to pay off. See also: long, shot

pressed for time

In a hurry; under time pressure.See also: press, time

seem

seem

seem

seem

seem

seem

seem

seem

seem

seem

seem

can't seem to

long shot

make (something) seem like a picnic

out of place

pressed for time

seem like (something)

high-and-mighty

*long shot

*oneself again

*out of place

*pressed for time

*putty in someone's hands

seem like someone or something

Things are seldom what they seem.

can't seem to

out of place

pressed for time

out of ˈplace

long shot

pressed for time

SEEM

seem

Synonyms for seem

verb appear

Synonyms

Synonyms for seem

verb to have the appearance of

Synonyms

Synonyms for seem

verb give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

Synonyms

Related Words

verb seem to be true, probable, or apparent

Synonyms

Related Words

verb appear to exist

Related Words

verb appear to one's own mind or opinion

Related Words