Seemingly: meaning, definitions and examples

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seemingly

 

[ ˈsiːmɪŋli ]

Adverb / Adjective
Context #1 | Adverb

in appearance

appearing to be true or real, but possibly not

Synonyms

allegedly, apparently, ostensibly

Examples of usage

  • It was a seemingly impossible task, but he managed to complete it.
  • The solution was seemingly simple, but it turned out to be quite complex.
  • She was seemingly happy, but deep down, she was struggling.
Context #2 | Adjective

based on appearances

having the appearance of being true or real

Synonyms

apparent, evident, ostensible

Examples of usage

  • The seemingly endless road stretched out before them.
  • The seemingly random events were all connected in the end.
  • His seemingly casual attitude masked a deep concern.

Translations

Translations of the word "seemingly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 aparentemente

🇮🇳 प्रतीत होता है

🇩🇪 scheinbar

🇮🇩 tampaknya

🇺🇦 здавалося б

🇵🇱 pozornie

🇯🇵 見たところ

🇫🇷 apparemment

🇪🇸 aparentemente

🇹🇷 görünüşe göre

🇰🇷 겉보기에는

🇸🇦 على ما يبدو

🇨🇿 zdánlivě

🇸🇰 zdanlivo

🇨🇳 看起来

🇸🇮 navidezno

🇮🇸 að því er virðist

🇰🇿 сырттай қарағанда

🇬🇪 როგორც ჩანს

🇦🇿 görünür ki

🇲🇽 aparentemente

Word origin

The word 'seemingly' is derived from the verb 'seem', which comes from the Old Norse word 'sœma' meaning 'to seem, be fitting'. The adverb form 'seemingly' first appeared in the English language in the late 16th century. It has been used to indicate appearances that may or may not be true, adding a layer of uncertainty to the description of events or situations.

See also: seem, seeming, unseemly.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,572 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.