seem
Pronounced:
/ˈsi:m/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
seems; seemed; seem·ingMeaning:
[linking verb] 1 : to appear to be something or to do something : to have a quality, appearance, etc., that shows or suggests a particular characteristic, feeling, etc. ▪ She seemed happy. ▪ He didn't seem interested. ▪ Their request seems reasonable/strange. ▪ What they're doing doesn't seem right to me. ▪ The letter seems important. ▪ Her story seems true. —often followed by to + verb ▪ Her story seems to be true. ▪ She seems to know our secret. [=I have the feeling/impression that she knows our secret] ▪ He didn't seem to remember that part of the story. —often used in the phrases seem like, seem as if, and seem as though ▪ He seems like a nice man. = He seems (to be) a nice man. ▪ We waited for what seemed like hours. ▪ Buying a new car seemed like a good idea at the time. ▪ It seemed as if/though the work would never end.
2 —used with it to make a statement about what appears to be true based on what is known ▪ It seems (that) they forgot about the meeting. ▪ The concert will not take place, it seems. ▪ “Are we on schedule?” “So it seems.” [=yes, I think that we are on schedule] ▪ They are very rude, or so it seems (to me).
3 —used to make a statement less definite or more polite —followed by to + verb ▪ I seem to remember that you said you'd help me. —often used in negative statements ▪ I can't seem to solve the problem. [=I have tried to solve the problem, but I can't] ▪ I couldn't seem to hit the ball straight. ▪ What seems to be the problem? [=what is the problem?]
2 —used with it to make a statement about what appears to be true based on what is known ▪ It seems (that) they forgot about the meeting. ▪ The concert will not take place, it seems. ▪ “Are we on schedule?” “So it seems.” [=yes, I think that we are on schedule] ▪ They are very rude, or so it seems (to me).
3 —used to make a statement less definite or more polite —followed by to + verb ▪ I seem to remember that you said you'd help me. —often used in negative statements ▪ I can't seem to solve the problem. [=I have tried to solve the problem, but I can't] ▪ I couldn't seem to hit the ball straight. ▪ What seems to be the problem? [=what is the problem?]