Definition

In a way that appears to be true but may not be; apparently.

Example

She was seemingly happy, but I could tell she was upset inside.

Conversation

I saw Sarah at the café yesterday, and she looked seemingly happy.

Really? That's surprising since she's been stressed lately.

Yeah, it was odd because she was seemingly enjoying herself with friends.

Maybe she’s just putting on a brave face for everyone.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Seemingly → It is formed from "seem" (from Old English *seman*, meaning to appear or to be perceived) and "-ingly" (a suffix used to form adverbs indicating manner). The word "seemingly" means in a manner that appears to be true or real, but may not actually be so.

Memory Tip

Think of how something 'appears' ('seem') and the '-ingly' shows how it is done. This helps you remember that 'seemingly' refers to how something appears to be.

Visually Confused Words