/si:m; sim/

1 v [La, Ln, Ipr, It] ~ (to sb) (to be) sth; ~ like sth (not used in progressive tenses 不用于进行时态) have or give the impression or appearance of being or doing sth; appear 似乎; 好像; 仿佛
*She seems happy (to me). （我看）她好像很愉快.
* Do whatever seems best. 只要觉察出是最好的, 就去做.
* It seems (to me) (to be) the best solution. （依我看）这似乎是最好的解决办法.
* It seemed like a disaster at the time. 在当时那就像是一场灾难.
* She seems (to me) to be right/It seems (to me) that she's right. （我看）她做得对.
* It would seem that..., ie a cautious way of saying, `It seems that...' 看来似乎是...（为It seems that...的含蓄说法）
* `She's leaving.' `So it seems', ie People say so. ｀她要走了.＇｀据说是这样.＇
* They seem to know what they're doing. 他们好像明白他们做的事情.
* I can't seem to (ie It seems that I can't) stop coughing. 我的咳嗽看来止不住了. =>Usage at appear 用法见appear. .
2 (idm 习语) it seems/seemed as if.../as though...the impression is/was given that... 看样子...; 看起来...; 似乎...; 好像...
*It always seemed as though they would marry in the end. 久而久之, 看来他们终归得结婚.

v [linking verb, not in progressive]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse;Origin: sœma 'to be appropriate to', from sœmr 'appropriate']
to appear to exist or be true, or to have a particular quality
　Ann didn't seem very sure.
　It seems a foolish decision now.
seem to do sth
　The rainbow seemed to end on the hillside.
seem important/right/strange etc to sb
　Doesn't that seem weird to you?
it seems to sb (that)
　It seems to me you don't have much choice.
it seems (that)
　It seemed that Freeman had killed the man, and dumped the body in the lake.
it seems likely/unlikely/reasonable/clear (that)
　It seems likely that he will miss Ireland's next match.
seem like
　Teri seemed like a nice girl.
　Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
　We waited for what seemed like hours .
seem as if/as though/like
　It seemed as if the end of the world had come.
　It seems like you're catching a cold, Taylor.
　'So Bill's leaving her?' ' So it seems (=it appears to be true) .'
can't/couldn't seem to do sth
used to say that you have tried to do something but cannot do it
　I just can't seem to relax.
used to make what you are saying less strong or certain, and more polite
seem to do sth
　I seem to have lost my car keys.
it seems (that)/it would seem (that)
　It would seem that someone left the building unlocked.

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WORD CHOICE: seem, appear, look, sound
Seem and appear have the same meaning but appear is more formal : They seem upset. | This appears to be a good solution.
You use look to say how someone or something seems to you when you look at them : Maureen looked tired. | That book looks good.
You use sound to say how someone or something seems to you when you hear or read about them, or hear them : She sounds a lovely person. | The party sounded great. |He sounded tired.
GRAMMAR
Seem can be followed by an adjective or an adjective and noun : She seemed happy. | He seems a nice man.
Seem can also be followed by a verb in the infinitive : His story seems to be true. | You seem to think it's my fault.
!! Seem can be followed by as if or as though but not just by as : It seems a small thing (NOT it seems as a small thing), but it's very important. |It seemed as if he wanted us to leave (NOT it seemed as he wanted ...).

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