seemingly
adverb
seem·ing·ly
ˈsē-miŋ-lē 
: 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
Bryan WalshThese 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
Ellis WoodmanThen, 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
Douglas BrennerDumbledore had most of the remaining Death Eaters grouped in the middle of the room, seemingly immobilized by invisible ropes.—J. K. Rowling
J. K. RowlingExamples of seemingly in a Sentence
a seemingly contented baby who was fast asleep in his crib
Recent Examples on the Web
That unpredictability, coupled with Johnson’s razor-thin voting margin, is testing the seemingly cozy relationship between the speaker and the president ahead of the midterms.
—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
The seemingly simple soccer cleat has progressed from a chunky leather work boot worn in factories to a marvel of modern engineering made with advanced synthetic materials and composites.
—
Mack Degeurin,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
The couple get married with Sherlock seemingly giving his nod of approval.
—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
In a video published by Chilean firefighters in the hours before the rescue, Gil Flores is seen drawing, seemingly to pass the time.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for seemingly
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.
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
The seemingly simple soccer cleat has progressed from a chunky leather work boot worn in factories to a marvel of modern engineering made with advanced synthetic materials and composites.
—
Mack Degeurin,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
The couple get married with Sherlock seemingly giving his nod of approval.
—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
In a video published by Chilean firefighters in the hours before the rescue, Gil Flores is seen drawing, seemingly to pass the time.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for seemingly
Cite this Entry
“Seemingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seemingly. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
