seems workable

USAGE SUMMARY

"seems workable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express perhaps a tentative agreement on some idea or plan, or to express an opinion that something is likely to work or be successful. Example sentence: "The plan we came up with seems workable, so let's move forward with it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Arum said they talked about the deal two weeks ago and it seems workable.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Though it had been a rash decision, it seemed workable.

The New Yorker

His tempos and balances came to seem workable and, finally, convincing.

The New York Times - Arts

Airlines ran test flights and reported that it seemed workable to them.

The New Yorker

Even though I know this, I tend to discount specific government guidelines because they seem to change arbitrarily, and they don't seem workable in real life.

The New York Times - Food

The head of United Nations peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno, said last week that a smaller force now seemed workable because a cease-fire seemed to be holding and advance parties of monitors in the country had faced no violence.

The New York Times

Initial studies indicate that, for a tokamak with high power density, an integrated Flibe first wall and divertor does not seem workable.

Fusion Engineering and Design

(This hardly seems a workable civic model).

The New York Times

Of these approaches, this last one seems most workable to me.

The New York Times

Her political consultants call it "asymmetric demobilisation".It is not an elegant or very principled strategy, but it seems a workable one.

The Economist

"It seems a workable hypothesis that heavy material consumption is not as fun as it used to be," Ms. Limerick said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seems workable" to express a tentative agreement or a qualified endorsement of a plan or idea, indicating that it appears practical based on initial assessment. Be mindful of the context to convey the appropriate level of confidence.

Common error

Avoid using "seems workable" when you have concrete evidence of a plan's success. This phrase implies uncertainty, so use stronger language if you possess definite proof.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems workable" functions as an evaluative expression, indicating a preliminary assessment of feasibility. Ludwig provides examples where the phrase is used to describe plans, strategies, or compromises that show promise but require further scrutiny.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seems workable" serves as a useful tool for expressing cautious optimism and qualified agreement across a range of contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While frequently encountered in News & Media and Scientific writing, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse applications. For situations demanding stronger endorsement, consider alternatives like "appears feasible" or "looks practical". Avoid using "seems workable" when definitive proof exists; the phrase's strength lies in conveying considered, but not absolute, feasibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears feasible

Replaces "seems" with "appears", emphasizing a visual assessment of possibility.

looks practical

Substitutes "workable" with "practical", focusing on the realistic applicability of something.

sounds viable

Changes "seems" to "sounds", indicating the assessment is based on information received rather than direct observation; replaces "workable" with "viable", focusing on potential for success.

is potentially achievable

Rephrases the entire expression to highlight the potential for accomplishment.

could be implemented successfully

Focuses on the successful execution or application of a plan or idea.

has potential to succeed

Emphasizes the likelihood of a positive outcome or accomplishment.

is likely to function

Shifts the focus to the operational capability of something.

is acceptably realistic

Indicates that something aligns with practical expectations or possibilities.

presents a reasonable option

Highlights the suitability and rationality of a choice or alternative.

suggests a pragmatic solution

Emphasizes the practicality and effectiveness of a proposed answer or method.

FAQs

How can I use "seems workable" in a sentence?

You can use "seems workable" to express a tentative agreement or a qualified assessment of a plan. For example, "The proposed solution "seems workable", but further testing is needed."

What are some alternatives to "seems workable"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "appears feasible", "looks practical", or "sounds viable".

Is "seems workable" formal or informal?

"Seems workable" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferable in highly professional settings.

What does "seems workable" imply?

"Seems workable" implies that something appears to be practical and likely to succeed, but there may still be some uncertainty or further evaluation needed. It suggests a qualified endorsement rather than absolute certainty.