seemly

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈsiːmli/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈsimli/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(sēmlē)

Inflections of 'seemly' (adj):
seemlier
adj comparative
seemliest
adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
seem•ly /ˈsimli/USA pronunciation   adj., -li•er, -li•est, 
  1. fitting;
    suitable;
    appropriate:Your outburst during church was hardly seemly.
seem•li•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
seem•ly  (sēmlē),USA pronunciation adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv. 
adj. 
  1. fitting or becoming with respect to propriety or good taste;
    decent;
    decorous:Your outburst of rage was hardly seemly.
  2. suitable or appropriate;
    fitting:a seemly gesture.
  3. of pleasing appearance;
    handsome.

adv. 
  1. in a seemly manner;
    fittingly;
    becomingly.
  • Old Norse sæmiligr honorable; derivative of sœmr (see seem)
  • Middle English semely 1175–1225
seemli•ness, n. 
    • 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged right, proper, appropriate, meet.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
seemly / ˈsiːmlɪ/ ( -lier, -liest)
  1. proper or fitting
  2. pleasing or handsome in appearance
  1. properly or decorously
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old Norse sœomiligr, from sœmr befitting
'seemly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

Forum discussions with the word(s) "seemly" in the title:


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