seemingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "seemingly" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
It can be used to express an intention, but can also be used to describe an appearance or impression. For example: "The seemingly friendly dog began to bark aggressively at my approach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Turning to Paul Le Guen was bold, imaginative and seemingly unrealistic but demonstrative of a degree of audacity that Murray has often matched with persuasiveness to great effect.

The Guardian - Sport

She said: "His status as honorary president does not give him the right to hijack the Front National with vulgar provocations seemingly designed to damage me, but that unfortunately hit the whole movement".

The Guardian

Even the most seemingly charitable acts have come under scrutiny.

The Guardian

And then there was Tilda Swinton, who spent 15 hours in a vitrine at London's Serpentine Gallery in 1995, seemingly asleep.

The Guardian - Arts

McDonald's reinvention of the Hamburglar was seemingly meant as a play for refreshed cultural relevance, but deeply mixed reactions to the new beef thief raise the prospect that the corporation has miscalculated.

The Guardian - Business

Ukip, after all, are in the midst of a seemingly endless political summer, while senior Conservative politicians such as Boris Johnson talk optimistically about life outside the clutches of Brussels.

The Guardian

In Glass Wings (Bloodaxe), Fleur Adcock is as clear-eyed as always in a collection that ranges widely over lost worlds, family histories and memories of childhood, but always maintains the art of seemingly artless observation.

The Guardian - Books

As I gazed at this seemingly impenetrable 935m-high wall of rock, my sentiments echoed those of Miss Jemima, who noted: "We were hard put to discover a path, or to understand how we should reach its summit".

The Guardian - Travel

His tastes are harder to pin down: seemingly willing to turn his hand to whatever his clients desire, he builds folksy cottages in the Chilterns with one hand, while erecting soaring glass totems in China with the other.

The Guardian - Arts

Similar protests on the mainland would be unthinkable – even organisers of seemingly benign demonstrations are subject to extreme intimidation, even prosecution.

The Guardian

Seemingly our MPs don't feel so "uncomfortable" about profit-making happening on the backs of other countries' kids So why, then, has Justine Greening, the secretary of state for international development, given speeches bigging up the for-profit international schools and handed out cash to them?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seemingly" to introduce an element of doubt or uncertainty about a situation or characteristic, suggesting that things may not be exactly as they appear. For instance, "The task was seemingly simple, but it proved to be more complex than expected."

Common error

Avoid using "seemingly" when you want to express a definite fact or certainty. "Seemingly" implies an appearance that might be deceptive. Instead of saying "The problem is seemingly solved", if you are sure, say "The problem is solved".

Linguistic Context

Seemingly functions as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that something appears a certain way, although this appearance may be deceptive. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correctly and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "seemingly" functions as an adverb, indicating an appearance that may or may not reflect reality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used correctly and commonly in written English. The primary purpose of "seemingly" is to introduce an element of doubt or uncertainty, often in neutral contexts such as news reporting. Alternative phrases like ""apparently"" and "ostensibly" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. A key best practice is to use "seemingly" to introduce uncertainty, avoiding its use when certainty is intended. With high expert rating and frequent usage, mastering "seemingly" will enhance precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Apparently

Indicates something appears to be true based on the information available.

Ostensibly

Suggests a stated or implied appearance that may conceal the true nature of something.

On the face of it

Emphasizes the initial impression or surface-level understanding.

To all appearances

Highlights the outward signs or indications that suggest a particular state.

Superficially

Focuses on the lack of depth or thoroughness in the appearance.

Evidently

Indicates that something is clear or obvious from the available evidence.

Presumably

Suggests an assumption based on probability or reasonable grounds.

Supposedly

Conveys that something is believed to be true, often without solid proof.

Reportedly

Indicates that information has been communicated but may not be verified.

Outwardly

Focuses on the external manifestation or visible aspect of something.

FAQs

How can I use "seemingly" in a sentence?

"Seemingly" is used to describe something that appears to be a certain way, but might not actually be. For instance, "The "seemingly endless task" was completed in just a few hours".

What's the difference between "seemingly" and "apparently"?

Both "seemingly" and "apparently" suggest something appears to be true. "Seemingly" emphasizes the appearance, while "apparently" indicates that the information is based on evidence. You can use "apparently" when you have some kind of evidence and "seemingly" when you are judging only an appearance.

What can I say instead of "seemingly"?

You can use alternatives like ""apparently"", "ostensibly", or "on the face of it" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "seemingly" to express an intention?

While "seemingly" primarily describes appearances, it can sometimes imply intention if the context suggests it. However, it's more common to use phrases like ""apparently"" or "ostensibly" to express perceived intentions.