seeming

1 of 2

noun

seem·​ing ˈsē-miŋ How to pronounce seeming (audio)
: external appearance as distinguished from true character : look

seeming

2 of 2

adjective

: outwardly or superficially evident but not true or real
the seeming immortality of our heroes
Choose the Right Synonym for seeming

apparent, illusory, seeming, ostensible mean not actually being what appearance indicates.

apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

Examples of seeming in a Sentence

Noun her altruism is all seeming—she cares only about herself Adjective Parents discussed the teacher's seeming lack of interest in the students. I was fooled by the seeming simplicity of the instructions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This season has been up and down in a lot of ways (Kristen’s effectiveness as a host, the vagueness of certain challenges, the seeming conspiracy to get Soo from Last Chance Kitchen onto Top Chef proper), but Danny, Dan, and Savannah have each had little paths of glory. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 June 2024 There, her singing was as flawless as ever, despite her seeming to work off a week’s worth of calories with every number that proceeded. Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
That night of violence — with its brutality and seeming lack of a motive — has shaken the community. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024 Political pressure will come to the Kremlin not just from opponents of the war but also from those dismayed by the military’s startling incompetence and seeming lack of determination. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 27 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for seeming 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1557, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seeming was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near seeming

Cite this Entry

“Seeming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seeming. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

seeming

adjective
seem·​ing
ˈsē-miŋ
: appearing to be real or true : apparent
suspicious of their seeming enthusiasm
seemingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on seeming

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!