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Seem, look, or appear
Seem is an impression from what you know or sense, look is an impression from what you see, and appear can also mean come into view.
Quick rule
From what you see? Look. From what you know or sense? Seem. Reporting facts, or something coming into view? Appear.
To give an impression from what you know, hear, or sense: She seems tired. It is not used in the progressive.
To seem from what you can see: You look great. Before a noun, look like: He looks like his dad.
To seem, mostly about facts and events (It appears that...), or to come into view: A cat appeared.
How to choose
| Question | seem | look | appear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is it about what your eyes tell you? | SometimesSometimes | Yes | SometimesSometimes |
| Can it mean come into view? | No | No | Yes |
| Does it fit can't ___ to, meaning you can't manage something? | Yes | No | No |
Why it trips people up
All three can mean "give an impression", but they differ in where it comes from. Look is visual, seem is a broader impression from what you know or sense, and appear often reports facts. Appear also means to come into view.
How each one works
Seem
An impression of someone
You seem worried. Is everything OK?
It seems that + clause
It seems that the store is closed.
Can't seem to: not manage to
I can't seem to find my keys.
Look
From how it looks + adjective
That cake looks delicious.
Look like + person: resemble
He looks like his father.
What's likely, from what you see
It looks like it's going to rain.
Appear
Coming into view
A deer suddenly appeared on the road.
Appear to + verb: facts
The suspect appears to have left the country.
Being in a film or show
She has appeared in several TV series.
What comes next
seem plus adjective
The new teacher seems nice.
seem plus to plus verb
They seem to know each other.
look plus adjective
You look tired today.
look like plus noun
This looks like a nice place.
appear plus to plus verb
The printer appears to be broken.
it appears that plus clause
It appears that nobody saw the accident.
Set phrases
Seem
- can't seem to
- to be unable to do something, even though you keep trying
Look
- not look yourself
- to not look as healthy or happy as you usually do
- to look at someone
- judging only by how someone appears, as in to look at him, you'd never guess his age
Appear
- appear out of nowhere
- to show up suddenly, with no warning
Almost the same
She looks happy.
You can see it on her face.
She seems happy.
It's your impression, from how she talks or acts.
She appears happy.
It sounds like a report: something observed and stated.
In a conversation
- A:
Is Leo OK? He seems a bit quiet today.
- B:
He looks tired, too. I think he worked late.
- A:
It appears that the whole team stayed until midnight.
- B:
No wonder they all look exhausted!
Common mistakes
Wrong: It appears crazy to me, but let's try it.
Right: It seems crazy to me, but let's try it.
For personal opinions and feelings, seem is the natural verb. Cambridge says appear is used mostly for facts and events.
Wrong: You look as you didn't sleep at all.
Right: You look as though you didn't sleep at all.
Before a clause, look needs as if, as though, or (informally) like. Look as alone does not work.
Memory trick
Look comes from your eyes. Seem comes from what you know or sense. Appear sounds like a report of facts, and it can also mean something showing up.
It depends
- It seems like vs it seems that
- Cambridge notes that it seems like + clause is less formal than it seems that. In a message to a client, it seems that is the safer pick.
FAQ
Seem or look: what is the difference?
Look is about appearance: the room looks clean. Seem is a broader impression from what you know: the plan seems risky.
Appear or seem: which one?
Often both work: the car appears to have broken down. For opinions and feelings, though, seem is the natural one: it seems unfair.