(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you say that something ~s to be the way you describe it, you are reporting what you believe or what you have been told, though you cannot be sure it is true.
There ~s to be increasing support for the leadership to take a more aggressive stance...
The aircraft ~s to have crashed near Katmandu...
It ~s that some missiles have been moved...
It ~s unlikely that the UN would consider making such a move...
The presidency is beginning to ~ a political irrelevance...
He ~ed willing to reach an agreement.
= seem
V-LINK: no cont, there V to-inf, V to-inf, it V that, it V adj that/to-inf, V n, V adj vagueness
2.
If someone or something ~s to have a particular quality or characteristic, they give the impression of having that quality or characteristic.
She did her best to ~ more self-assured than she felt...
He is anxious to ~ a gentleman...
Under stress these people will ~ to be superficial, over-eager and manipulative.
= seem
V-LINK: no cont, V adj, V n, V to-inf
3.
When someone or something ~s, they move into a position where you can see them.
A woman ~ed at the far end of the street...
VERB: V
4.
When something new ~s, it begins to exist or reaches a stage of development where its existence can be noticed.
...small white flowers which ~ in early summer...
Slogans have ~ed on walls around the city.
VERB: V, V
5.
When something such as a book ~s, it is published or becomes available for people to buy.
...a poem which ~ed in his last collection of verse.
VERB: V
6.
When someone ~s in something such as a play, a show, or a television programme, they take part in it.
Jill Bennett became John Osborne’s fourth wife, and ~ed in several of his plays...
Student leaders ~ed on television to ask for calm.
VERB: V in n, V on/at n
7.
When someone ~s before a court of law or before an official committee, they go there in order to answer charges or to give information as a witness.
Two other executives ~ed at Worthing Magistrates’ Court charged with tax fraud...
The American will ~ before members of the disciplinary committee at Portman Square.
VERB: V in/at n, V before n