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.
The rapper and his younger son seemingly enjoy a close relationship. Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026 The military seemingly guns her down during a confrontation with Hopper and Eleven. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Jan. 2026 While the virus’ global effects are seemingly positive — creating a communal society full of smiling faces and absent of violence, bigotry, and class systems — on a person-to-person level, the results are less comforting. Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 31 Dec. 2025 Some had a seemingly innocent premise with people asking if the day care had space for their own children. Conor Wight, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025 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 2 Jan. 2026.

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