seemingly visible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seemingly visible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears to be visible but may not be clearly or truly so. Example: "The ghostly figure was seemingly visible in the dim light, leaving everyone questioning their own eyes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Through the binoculars Lauren had observed the birds returning, flying around the roof in vain, their distress seemingly visible in their erratic passes.

The New Yorker

We only imagine that the landscape exists because of the formal arrangement of a windowlike orange frame and blockish green and yellow forms of land and sky seemingly visible through a half-drawn curtain of blue.

The New York Times

Most images of the fire show Grenfell Tower standing in isolation, seemingly visible across the city, but, in fact, the streetscape around the tower is closely packed with townhouses, low-rise apartment blocks, and, in early summer, the spreading canopy of trees.

The New Yorker

The portly and middle-aged ghost of the fiancée's father comes onscreen by means of an ordinary double exposure, with the décor and the action seemingly visible through him; he's able to lay hold of objects and move them, to comic effect, without being seen or heard.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Now, thanks to the internet, its "tag a mate" Facebook posts and a noticeable increase in viral news stories about sexual misadventure, "your mum" is seemingly more visible than ever.

Vice

Only at one closing, a block away, could I not see the dismantling of the scenery; the stage door of "Jennie" wasn't visible, seemingly hidden by a long passageway that led to the sidewalk.

The New York Times - Magazine

The typology captures a range of visibility – from seemingly absent through to highly visible and applied throughout.

Social Science & Medicine

As you walk the gently rising and falling ramps that line the inside walls of the "Yale Whale," the ice everywhere visible and seemingly close enough to touch, the single concrete arch soaring cooly overhead, all the academic arguments for Saarinen are suddenly moot.

Forbes

But the movement has grown less visible and seemingly more diffuse over the last several months, as city after city has moved to uproot any demonstrators who look settled in.

Huffington Post

In a sense, they are an effort to bring back the promise of the consumer Internet, creating visible connections between seemingly disparate pieces of information.

The New York Times

The Performing Arts Center rises windowless behind a grove of trees, visible from the seemingly endless service road leading to the school's vast parking lot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seemingly visible" to describe something that appears to be present or noticeable but may not be truly so upon closer inspection. This is especially useful when describing perceptions or initial impressions.

Common error

Avoid using "seemingly visible" simply to add emphasis; ensure there's a genuine sense of something appearing visible but potentially being deceptive or not entirely clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seemingly visible" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, describing a noun's apparent visibility rather than its absolute visibility. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It often implies a degree of uncertainty or superficiality in the visibility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seemingly visible" is used to describe something that appears to be visible but may not truly be so. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in "News & Media". It is classified as an adverb + adjective and it's used to qualify the visibility of something with a degree of uncertainty. As indicated by Ludwig, the term suits neutral registers and can be found in various writing scenarios where the emphasis is on apparent rather than definite visibility. It’s important to use this phrase when you want to introduce a degree of doubt, or want to highlight the difference between perception and reality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparently visible

Indicates that something appears visible based on available evidence.

seemingly discernible

Focuses on the aspect of discerning or distinguishing something with a slight uncertainty.

ostensibly visible

Suggests that something is visible from an outward perspective, but the reality may be different.

apparently discernible

Replaces 'seemingly' with 'apparently', suggesting a more evident appearance, and 'visible' with 'discernible', emphasizing the ability to perceive it.

ostensibly apparent

Uses 'ostensibly' to indicate a surface appearance and 'apparent' to suggest something easily noticed.

apparently noticeable

Indicates that something is noticeably present to all appearances.

visibly evident

Emphasizes the visibility and obviousness of something.

perceptibly noticeable

Highlights the ability to perceive and notice something, though subtly.

apparently perceptible

Combines 'apparently' and 'perceptible' to convey something that seems able to be sensed or noticed.

noticeably visible

Stresses that something can be seen and is also worthy of attention.

FAQs

How can I use "seemingly visible" in a sentence?

You can use "seemingly visible" to describe something that appears to be present or noticeable, but might not actually be so. For example, "The solution was "seemingly visible", yet no one noticed it at first."

What are some alternatives to "seemingly visible"?

Alternatives include "apparently visible", "ostensibly visible", or "visibly evident", depending on the context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "seemingly visible"?

While "seemingly" implies an appearance that might not be accurate, and "visible" means able to be seen, combining them isn't necessarily redundant. It emphasizes that something gives the impression of being seen, even if that perception is questionable.

What's the difference between "seemingly visible" and "clearly visible"?

"Seemingly visible" suggests that something appears to be visible but may not be so upon closer inspection or may be deceptive. "Clearly visible", on the other hand, indicates that something is easily and unambiguously seen.