seemingly

adverb

seem·​ing·​ly ˈsē-miŋ-lē How to pronounce seemingly (audio)
Synonyms of seeminglynext
: outwardly or apparently
used to indicate how something appears or seems
a seemingly simple problem [=a problem that seems simple]
a seemingly endless project [=a project that seems to have no end]
The balance of nature—an ideal state in which every species is in its right place—is seemingly being upended.Bryan Walsh
These were years in which seemingly every city authority from Adelaide to Oslo had set its heart on the construction of an unsurpassably iconic building …Ellis Woodman
Then, in 1929, taste arbiter Emily Post sanctioned a seemingly irreversible shift in manners: "No rule of etiquette is of less importance than which fork we use."Douglas Brenner
Dumbledore had most of the remaining Death Eaters grouped in the middle of the room, seemingly immobilized by invisible ropes.J. K. Rowling

Examples of seemingly in a Sentence

a seemingly contented baby who was fast asleep in his crib
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.
Importing higher-paying—and oftentimes higher-achieving—students benefits a school during boom times, when universities have seemingly infinite choice among applicants. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 19 May 2026 Fans of The Boys spinoff Gen V have been more than a little annoyed that A) the show was recently canceled, and B) its characters, who spent two seasons supporting the storyline of the main series, have showed up for two minutes total and were seemingly dismissed by an annoyed Starlight. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The audience applauded, seemingly agreeing. Rachel Handler, Vulture, 18 May 2026 Catherine Varitek, the wife of former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, seemingly took a swipe at Boston Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow on social media Monday morning. Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for seemingly

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seemingly was circa 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Seemingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seemingly. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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