seems up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seems up" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used informally to suggest that something appears to be in a good or positive state, but it is not widely recognized. Example: "After the meeting, everything seems up and running smoothly now."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Rojo seems up for the challenge.

The New York Times

Everything else seems up for grabs.

The New Yorker

Instead, he seems up to date.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr Kan's team hardly seems up to the job.

The Economist

The only way seems up for the Post.

The Guardian

No technology company seems up to the honor.

The New York Times

Bondarchuk, being in the crosshairs, seems up for a scrap.

The Guardian - Film

And, somewhat surprisingly, the car seems up to the task.

The New York Times

So far, Stanford seems up to the challenge.

The New York Times

Wardak Province, which borders Kabul, is one place that seems up for grabs.

The New York Times

Mr. Obama, at least, seems up when he is on the stump.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical or professional contexts, consider alternatives such as "appears operational" or "appears to be functioning" for greater precision.

Common error

Avoid using "seems up" in formal documents or academic papers. Its informal nature may detract from your credibility. Instead, opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "appears ready" or "appears capable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems up" functions as a qualifier, indicating an apparent state or condition. Ludwig AI suggests that while frequently used, this phrase is not grammatically correct. Examples in Ludwig show its use to describe readiness, capability, or the general state of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While "seems up" appears frequently, Ludwig AI points out that it's not grammatically correct in standard English. The phrase is often used informally to suggest that something appears ready, capable, or generally in a positive state. However, in formal or professional contexts, it’s best to use alternatives like "appears ready" or "seems capable" for clarity and credibility. The examples provided by Ludwig highlight its common use in news and media, but remember to adjust your language based on your audience and the context of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears ready

Replaces "seems up" with a more formal and widely accepted way of indicating readiness or preparedness.

appears prepared

Highlights the state of being ready for a specific event or task, similar to "appears ready".

appears capable

Conveys a sense of ability or competence, focusing on someone's or something's capacity to handle a task.

appears in control

Indicates that someone or something is managing a situation effectively, highlighting control.

appears to be functioning

Focuses on the operational status, indicating that something is working as expected.

seems to be operational

Indicates that something is ready to use and working according to design

appears on track

Conveys that something is progressing as planned or scheduled, emphasizing forward movement.

looks promising

Emphasizes a positive outlook or expectation, suggesting a favorable outcome.

seems to be in order

Suggests that things are arranged correctly or are proceeding as planned, implying a sense of organization.

appears to be resolved

Highlights the completion or settlement of an issue or problem, focusing on resolution.

FAQs

What does "seems up" mean?

"Seems up" is an informal phrase that suggests something appears to be in a good, ready, or functional state. In standard English, it's better to use phrases like "appears ready" or "seems capable".

Is "seems up" grammatically correct?

No, "seems up" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Alternatives such as "appears to be ready" or "seems to be working" are more appropriate.

When is it okay to use "seems up"?

You might use "seems up" in very informal conversations or casual writing. However, for professional or academic settings, it's best to choose more formal alternatives.

What can I say instead of "seems up" when describing a person's ability?

Instead of "seems up", you can say "appears capable", "seems competent", or "appears to be qualified" depending on the context.