seemingly
gb/sˈimɪŋli/ us/sˈimɪŋli/
C1
English
~ 6100
úgy tűnik, látszólag
C1
1
Usage pattern:
seemingly [adjective] / seemingly, [clause]
The plan was seemingly simple, but it took months to finish.
A terv egyszerűnek tűnt, de hónapokba telt, mire befejezték.
Seemingly, no one knew about the change in schedule.
Úgy tűnt, senki sem tudott a beosztás változásáról.
The company is seemingly healthy, with steady growth and high profits.
He gave a seemingly honest answer to every question.
The solution is only seemingly obvious until you try to apply it.
Learner examples
The task is seemingly easy for her.
Úgy tűnik, a feladat könnyű neki.
Seemingly, he does not want to talk about it.
Úgy tűnik, nem akar beszélni róla.
The city is seemingly safe at night.
Her question was seemingly simple, but I could not answer it.
The problem is seemingly clear now.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "seemingly" exactly like "seems" before a clause (e.g., *"It seemingly he is tired"*). Correct patterns are "He seemingly is tired" or, more natural, "He seemingly feels tired" or "It seems that he is tired." Learners also confuse "seemingly" with "definitely"; remember that "seemingly" shows uncertainty, not certainty.
Meaning
apparently, based on how it looks
Collocations
seemingly normal
|seemingly simple
|seemingly reasonable
|seemingly minor
|seemingly obvious
|seemingly clear
Synonyms
apparently (Very close in meaning; often used when reporting what appears to be true, sometimes based on what others say.)
|
evidently (Similar but can sound slightly more formal or logical, suggesting there is clear evidence.)
Antonyms
actually (Marks what is really true, sometimes in contrast to what only seems to be true.)
|
certainly (Expresses that something is sure, not just appearing to be true.)
Themes
communication
|thinking
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used when something looks or seems true, but you are not completely sure.
Used to say that something appears to be true based on what can be seen or understood, but without full certainty.
C1
2
látszólag
B2
Usage pattern:
seemingly [positive/neutral adjective], but [contrasting fact]
He was a seemingly friendly neighbor who later turned out to be a thief.
Ő egy látszólag barátságos szomszéd volt, akiről később kiderült, hogy tolvaj.
It was a seemingly harmless comment that caused a major argument.
Ez egy látszólag ártalmatlan megjegyzés volt, amely nagy veszekedést okozott.
They invested in a seemingly safe fund that collapsed within a year.
The change is only seemingly minor; in reality, it affects every department.
She had a seemingly perfect life, but she was very unhappy inside.
Learner examples
He is a seemingly kind man, but he often lies.
Látszólag kedves ember, de gyakran hazudik.
It was a seemingly small problem, but it stopped the whole project.
Ez egy látszólag apró probléma volt, de leállította az egész projektet.
She has a seemingly perfect job, yet she wants to quit.
This is a seemingly safe area, but many crimes happen here at night.
The dog is seemingly calm, but it can bite suddenly.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes miss the contrast and use "seemingly" where they just mean "really" or "certainly" (e.g., *"a seemingly true story"* when they believe it is truly true). In this sense, "seemingly" suggests that appearance and reality do not fully match, often followed by a contrast like "but" or "yet."
Meaning
outwardly, but not in reality
Collocations
seemingly perfect
|seemingly harmless
|seemingly innocent
|seemingly friendly
|seemingly stable
|seemingly happy
Synonyms
ostensibly (More formal; strongly highlights that what appears to be true is not the real reason or reality.)
|
outwardly (Focuses on the external appearance, often contrasting with inner reality.)
Antonyms
genuinely (Stresses that something is truly the way it appears, without hidden difference.)
|
truly (Emphasizes real, not just apparent, quality or state.)
Themes
thinking
|description
|warnings
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used when something looks one way, but in fact it is different, often worse or more complex.
Used to emphasize a contrast between how something appears on the surface and how it really is.
Grammar
Dictionary form
seemingly
IPA
GB/sˈimɪŋli/
US/sˈimɪŋli/
Syllables & stress
seem - ingly (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (seem)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: seemingly
- Plural: seeminglies
Word family
Forms
seeminglies
noun
Core family
seem
verb A2
Related words
seeming
adjective
Advanced or less common
seemly
adjective
unseemly
adjective
Expressions
seemingly endless
1/sˈimɪŋli ˈɛndləs/
fixed phrase
appearing to go on forever
Used when something feels like it will never stop or end.
Examples
- We waited in a seemingly endless line at the airport.
- After weeks of seemingly endless rain, the sun finally came out.
seemingly impossible
2/sˈimɪŋli ɪmpˈɑsɪbəl/
fixed phrase
appearing impossible to do
Used when something looks like it cannot be done, but it might still be possible.
Examples
- They achieved the seemingly impossible by finishing the project in two weeks.
- Climbing that cliff looked seemingly impossible from below.
seemingly innocent
3/sˈimɪŋli ˈɪnəsənt/
fixed phrase
appearing harmless or not guilty
Used when someone or something looks harmless or not guilty, but may not really be so.
Examples
- It was a seemingly innocent game that turned into serious bullying.
- A seemingly innocent question made everyone feel uncomfortable.
seemingly random
4/sˈimɪŋli ɹˈændəm/
fixed phrase
appearing without any pattern
Used when things look like they happen with no clear reason or order.
Examples
- The hacker tried several seemingly random passwords before getting in.
- The numbers may look seemingly random, but there is a simple rule behind them.
seemingly simple
5/sˈimɪŋli sˈɪmpəl/
fixed phrase
appearing easy or straightforward
Used when something looks easy, but is more difficult than it appears.
Examples
- What looked like a seemingly simple repair took all afternoon.
- Teaching children can be a seemingly simple task that requires a lot of skill.