🆚What is the difference between "it looks like..." and "it seems like..." ? "it looks like..." vs "it seems like..." ? (2024)

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masaki

12 Apr 2014

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  • English (UK)

  • English (US)

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🆚What is the difference between "it looks like..." and "it seems like..." ? "it looks like..." vs "it seems like..." ? (2)

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ella

12 Apr 2014

  • English (US)

Both are very similar.
-"It looks like" is something you usually say when you can physically see something.
-"It seems like" is something a little more abstract. It's something you can only "detect" or guess at.

Examples:
-"it seems like it will rain"
-"it looks like it will rain"
(these are both okay to say)

-"It seems like just yesterday I was in high school"
(you can't say "It looks like just yesterday I was in high school" because you can't physically "see" how much time has passed)

🆚What is the difference between "it looks like..." and "it seems like..." ? "it looks like..." vs "it seems like..." ? (4)

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ella

12 Apr 2014

  • English (US)

Both are very similar.
-"It looks like" is something you usually say when you can physically see something.
-"It seems like" is something a little more abstract. It's something you can only "detect" or guess at.

Examples:
-"it seems like it will rain"
-"it looks like it will rain"
(these are both okay to say)

-"It seems like just yesterday I was in high school"
(you can't say "It looks like just yesterday I was in high school" because you can't physically "see" how much time has passed)

🆚What is the difference between "it looks like..." and "it seems like..." ? "it looks like..." vs "it seems like..." ? (11)

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masaki

13 Apr 2014

  • Japanese

Thank you for the thorough explanation!!

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🆚What is the difference between "it looks like..." and "it seems like..." ? "it looks like..." vs "it seems like..." ? (19)

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🆚What is the difference between "it looks like..." and "it seems like..." ? "it looks like..." vs "it seems like..." ? (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between looks like and seems like? ›

Looks like means that WE are nearly sure of the fact , however seems like means just an impression ..

What is the difference between sounds like and looks like? ›

So "sounds" is specifically for information we get with our ears. "Looks" is used for information we get with our eyes. So again, we use this before an adjective or an adverb, just "look" or "looks," and we use "looks like" before a noun phrase.

What does seemed fine mean? ›

"everything seems fine" is correct and usable in written English. You can use this phrase when you want to indicate that a situation is acceptable or when everything appears to be in good condition. For example, "I checked all the equipment before the event, and everything seemed fine."

What is the difference between look like and looks like? ›

“Looks like” is correct when talking about someone else, like “he looks like my brother”. With “look like”, however, when talking about yourself (I look like), someone directly (you look like), or a group of people (we or they look like), “look like” would be correct. Hope this helps!

What is the meaning of seems like? ›

It can mean "to be apparent, or probable," like the nice person you just met who seems like he'll make a good friend. Seem can also mean "to appear to exist," like when heat shimmering on pavement makes it seem like there is a puddle on the road.

How to use seem and look? ›

Both 'seem' and 'look' are linking verbs that mean 'to appear a certain way or give a certain impression'. However, 'look' is used to describe visual appearance or qualities, while 'seem' expresses subjective perception, impressions, or inferences about something based on observation or available information.

What is the difference between seems and sounds? ›

We use “seem” when talking about a situation that we have experienced for a very short time and we want to give our impression. But, We use “sound” when we are listening to another person talking about a certain situation and we want to talk about our impression of it.

What is the difference between seem and seems? ›

The verb “seem” is used with a plural noun (they). Look at all those people. They seem to be forming an angry mob. The verb “seems” is used with a singular noun.

What is mean by seems? ›

Seem means 'appear in a particular way'. We can use it as a linking verb (like be) or with a to-infinitive. We do not normally use seem in the continuous form: …

What does it mean when someone says it seems? ›

2. to appear to one's own senses, mind, observation, judgment, etc. It seems to me that someone is calling. 3. to appear to exist.

When to use seem or look? ›

Both 'seem' and 'look' are linking verbs that mean 'to appear a certain way or give a certain impression'. However, 'look' is used to describe visual appearance or qualities, while 'seem' expresses subjective perception, impressions, or inferences about something based on observation or available information.

When to use it seems like? ›

We use this sentence pattern when we think something is true, but we do not know for sure. Also, there is some reason or evidence for why we think something. It seems like it will rain. = I think it will rain.

When should I use seems? ›

The difference between them is based on the subject of the sentence. You should use “seem” with first-person and second-person singular subjects (I or you), and with plural subjects (we, you, they). You should use “seems” with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, or a name).

When to use it looks like? ›

We use this when we want to talk about something that has a similar or the same appearance as something else. “A looks like B,” “That cloud looks like a rabbit,” “Your brother looks like a mouse.” These patterns mean that thing A or person A has a similar appearance to thing B or person B.

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