seeming: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “seeming” mean?
An outward appearance or impression that might not match the true nature or reality.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An outward appearance or impression that might not match the true nature or reality.
The quality of appearing to be a certain way, often implying a contrast between superficial appearance and underlying truth. Also used as a participial adjective meaning 'apparent' or 'ostensible'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more prevalent in formal British literary and academic writing.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of potential deception, illusion, or the gap between appearance and reality.
Frequency
Low-frequency in everyday speech in both regions. More common in formal, written, or philosophical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “seeming” in a Sentence
N + of seemingin seemingfor all the seeming + NVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seeming” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Her seeming lack of interest was just shyness.
- They overcame the seeming impossibility of the task.
American English
- He answered with seeming honesty.
- The plan's seeming simplicity was misleading.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal reports: 'Despite the seeming stability of the market, we advise caution.'
Academic
Common in humanities/philosophy to discuss epistemology or phenomenology: 'The seeming of reality is a core philosophical problem.'
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Would sound formal or literary.
Technical
Used in optics/psychology: 'the seeming size of an object' (perceived size).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seeming”
- Using 'seeming' as a main verb (e.g., 'He was seeming happy'* — incorrect; use 'seemed').
- Confusing 'seeming' (adj/noun) with 'seemingly' (adverb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Seem' is the verb. 'Seeming' is the present participle, but it is not used in progressive tenses for this verb. It is used as an adjective or a noun.
'Seeming' is an adjective (before a noun) or a noun. 'Seemingly' is an adverb (modifying a verb, adjective, or whole clause). E.g., 'seeming indifference' (adjective) vs. 'He was seemingly indifferent' (adverb).
It's very formal. In everyday speech, it's more natural to use words like 'apparent', 'obvious', or rephrase the sentence. E.g., instead of 'his seeming anger', say 'he seemed angry'.
Not always, but it frequently implies a contrast with reality. The context determines if it's neutral ('seeming distance of the mountains') or suggests deception ('his seeming friendship').
An outward appearance or impression that might not match the true nature or reality.
Seeming is usually formal, literary in register.
Seeming: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiːmɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsimɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “for all the/seeming... (e.g., For all his seeming confidence, he was nervous.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SEEMING' as 'SEEMS' + 'ING' — it's the state of how something SEEMS, not necessarily how it IS.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPEARANCE IS A MASK/VEIL (The true reality is hidden behind the 'seeming').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'seeming' used correctly as an adjective?