seem
gb/sˈim/ us/sˈim/
A2
English
~ 200
tűnik, úgy tűnik
VERB
A2
1
tűnik
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] seems [adjective]
She seems tired after the long trip.
Fáradtnak tűnik a hosszú utazás után.
It seems impossible to finish this today.
Lehetetlennek tűnik ezt ma befejezni.
He seems like a nice person.
This plan seems risky.
You seem very confident about your answer.
Learner examples
He seems happy today.
Ma boldognak tűnik.
It seems easy to do.
Könnyűnek tűnik megcsinálni.
She seems nice.
The test seems hard.
This place seems quiet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'seem' with 'look' or 'sound'. 'Seem' is more general and can refer to any kind of impression, not just visual or auditory.
Meaning
Appear to be
Collocations
seem happy
|seem likely
|seem strange
|seem obvious
|seem impossible
Synonyms
appear (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal in some contexts.)
Antonyms
be (Indicates actual state rather than perceived state.)
Themes
perception
|communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To look or feel like something is true, even if it may not be.
To appear to be something, whether or not it is actually true.
VERB
B1
2
úgy tűnik
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] seems to [verb]
They seem to understand the problem well.
Úgy tűnik, jól értik a problémát.
He seems to be telling the truth.
Úgy tűnik, igazat mond.
The engine seems to be working fine.
You seem to know a lot about this topic.
Learner examples
She seems to like the movie.
Úgy tűnik, tetszik neki a film.
They seem to work together well.
Úgy tűnik, jól dolgoznak együtt.
He seems to know the answer.
It seems to rain a lot here.
Common mistake:
Some learners forget 'to' after 'seem' when followed by a verb.
Meaning
Appear to do something
Collocations
seem to know
|seem to understand
|seem to work
|seem to care
Synonyms
appear to (Almost identical meaning; often interchangeable.)
Themes
perception
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To look like you are doing something, even if you are not.
To appear, based on evidence or behavior, to be doing or to have done something.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
It seems (that) [clause]
It seems that we have a misunderstanding.
Úgy tűnik, félreértés van köztünk.
It seems likely that they will cancel the meeting.
Valószínűnek tűnik, hogy lemondják a megbeszélést.
It seems clear that she was right.
Learner examples
It seems that he is late.
Úgy tűnik, késik.
It seems they are happy.
Úgy tűnik, boldogok.
It seems she knows the answer.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'that' when it is needed for clarity in formal writing, though in speech it is often dropped.
Meaning
Indicate possibility
Collocations
it seems that
|it seems likely
|it seems clear
Synonyms
appear (Close synonym; 'appear' is sometimes slightly more formal.)
Themes
communication
|speculation
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone think something might be true, but not for sure.
To suggest indirectly that something might be true, without stating it as a fact.
Grammar
Dictionary form
seem
IPA
GB/sˈim/
US/sˈim/
Syllables & stress
seem (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (seem)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: seem
- 3rd Person Singular: seems
- Present Participle: seeming
- Past: seemed
Word family
Forms
seems
verb
seeming
verb
seemed
verb
Advanced or less common
seemingly
adverb C1
Expressions
it would seem
1/ˈɪt wˈʊd sˈim/
fixed phrase
Apparently true based on evidence
Used when you think something is true from what you know now.
Examples
- It would seem we have run out of options.
- It would seem she has made her decision.
make it seem as if
1/mˈeɪk ˈɪt sˈim ˈæz ˈɪf/
fixed phrase
Cause an impression of something untrue
To do something so people think something is true when it's not.
Examples
- He made it seem as if he had no money.
- They made it seem as if the problem was solved.
seem like
1/sˈim lˈaɪk/
fixed phrase
Appear similar to something
To look or feel like something else.
Examples
- He seems like a friendly person.
- This place seems like home already.