ENGLISH
REFERENCE

seem

v.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈsim// UK //sˈiːm// seem Archaic General-service

v. to give the impression of being something. You use this when you are talking about how something looks or feels, even if you are not 100% sure.

v. to give the impression of being or having a particular quality. Functions as a linking verb and is often used to soften a statement or express uncertainty.


SIMPLE

You seem happy today.

CONTEXTUAL

The new software might seem complicated at first, but it becomes much easier to use after a few hours of practice.

COMPLEX

While the initial results seem promising, the research team remains cautious until they can replicate the findings under more controlled laboratory conditions.

Synonyms
Usage

A linking verb that takes an adjective or a 'to'-infinitive; it cannot be used in the continuous (-ing) form.

Pitfall

It is seeming to be rainIt seems to be rainingSeem is a stative verb and is almost never used in the continuous (-ing) form.

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