Quick answer: Look = appearance based on what you can see: She looks tired (visible signs). Seem = overall impression or judgement, more subjective: He seems nervous (general feeling). Seem is slightly less certain and does not require visual evidence. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘look’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| look | linking verb | visible appearance based on observation | She looks tired. / That cake looks delicious. |
| seem | linking verb | overall subjective impression or judgement | He seems nervous. / It seems like a good idea. |
Using Look — Based on Visual Evidence
When look is used as a linking verb, it describes how something appears based on what you can directly observe. It implies you have visual evidence for your statement. If you say someone looks tired, you can see the signs — red eyes, slow movements, a pale face. If you say a cake looks delicious, your eyes are telling you so. The evidence for look is primarily what you perceive visually in the present moment.
She looks tired — her eyes are red.
That cake looks absolutely delicious.
He looks like a professional athlete.
The sky looks dark — it might rain.
Look + Adjective and Look Like + Noun
Look as a linking verb follows two main patterns. The first is look + adjective: “You look great!” The adjective describes the appearance of the subject. The second is look like + noun phrase: “She looks like a doctor.” This compares the subject’s appearance to something else. A third option is look + as if / as though for clauses: “It looks as if it’s going to rain.” Note that look that... is not standard English — use as if or as though instead.
You look pale today.
He looks like his father.
It looks as though the meeting has been cancelled.
Using Seem — Subjective Overall Impression
Seem expresses a more subjective overall impression or judgement. It does not require visual evidence — it can be based on any sense, feeling, or general impression you have formed. If you say someone seems nervous, you might be picking up on their tone of voice, their behaviour, what they have said, or simply a general feeling you have about them. Seem is also slightly more tentative than look — it acknowledges that your impression may not be completely certain.
He seems nervous about the interview.
It seems like a reasonable idea.
She seems to know what she’s doing.
The situation seems more complex than we thought.
Seem + Adjective, Seem to + Infinitive, and Seem Like + Noun
Seem is grammatically more flexible than look. It follows three main patterns. First, seem + adjective: “He seems unhappy.” Second, seem to + infinitive: “She seems to enjoy her work.” This construction is extremely useful and natural; look + to-infinitive is much rarer and often sounds awkward. Third, seem like + noun phrase: “It seems like a good plan.” Crucially, seem also takes that-clauses: “It seems that the project will be delayed.” This construction works with seem but is not possible with look — you cannot say “It looks that...”
He seems to be waiting for someone.
It seems that the project will be delayed.
That seems like a fair compromise.
Side by Side: Look vs Seem
The clearest way to feel the difference is to compare the same context using both verbs. Notice how the source of the impression changes.
She looks ill. — (visible pallor, trembling — based on what you can directly see)
She seems ill. — (overall impression from her behaviour, tone, affect — not purely visual)
The restaurant looks busy. — (you can see lots of people through the window)
The restaurant seems popular. — (impression from reviews, atmosphere, word of mouth)
Common Mistakes
✗ It looks that he is unhappy.
✓ It seems that he is unhappy.
Note: Look does not take a that-clause. Seem does. With look, use “as if” or “as though”: “It looks as if he is unhappy.”
Not wrong but less natural: She seems very attractive. (when referring purely to physical appearance)
More natural: She looks very attractive.
Note: For purely visual or physical impressions, look is the default. Seem suggests a more general or subjective judgement beyond what the eyes alone perceive.
✗ Unnatural: He looks to be a doctor.
✓ He seems to be a doctor.
Note: Look + to-infinitive is uncommon and often sounds unnatural. Seem + to-infinitive is the standard construction: “She seems to enjoy it,” “He seems to know the answer.”
Also confusing: Leave vs Let, Mistake vs Error, Problem vs Issue, Affect vs Effect. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Quick Check: Look or Seem?
Four questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “She ___ very pale today — are you sure she’s well?”
2. “It ___ that the project will be delayed.”
3. “The food ___ amazing!” (referring to its appearance on the plate)
4. “He ___ to enjoy his new job.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between look and seem?
Both look and seem are linking verbs followed by adjectives. Look describes how something appears based on direct observation or visual evidence: “She looks tired” (you can see she is tired). Seem describes a more subjective overall impression that may not be purely visual: “She seems tired” (your general sense from her behaviour, manner, or what she says). Seem is slightly more uncertain than look.
Can “look” and “seem” be used interchangeably?
In many cases yes — “She looks happy” and “She seems happy” are both natural and close in meaning. However, they differ when the evidence is not visual (seem is better), when you want to express strong visual evidence (look is better), and in grammar: “It seems that...” is standard but “It looks that...” is not. When in doubt, look for visual/physical evidence (look) vs overall impression (seem).
What grammar structures follow “look” and “seem”?
Look is followed by: (1) adjective — “You look great”; (2) like + noun — “She looks like a nurse”; (3) as if / as though + clause — “It looks as if it will rain.” Seem is followed by: (1) adjective — “He seems tired”; (2) to + infinitive — “She seems to enjoy it”; (3) like + noun — “It seems like a plan”; (4) that + clause — “It seems that we’re lost.” The key difference: seem takes to-infinitives and that-clauses; look generally does not.
Is “it looks that” correct?
No. “It looks that...” is not standard English. Use “It seems that...” instead: “It seems that the concert has been cancelled.” With “look,” use “as if” or “as though”: “It looks as if the concert has been cancelled.” This is one of the clearest grammatical differences between the two verbs.
What is the difference between “look like” and “seem like”?
Both can introduce a noun phrase or a clause. “Look like” tends to imply visual similarity: “He looks like a teacher” (physically resembles one). “Seem like” implies an overall impression: “He seems like a nice person” (your general feeling). “Seems like” is extremely common in spoken English: “That seems like a good idea.” “Looks like” is also used to signal weather or visual predictions: “Looks like rain!”
Can “seem” be used without an adjective or noun?
Yes, with a to-infinitive: “She seems to know the answer,” “They seem to be waiting.” This structure (seem + to-infinitive) is one of seem’s most useful features. Look + to-infinitive is much less common and often sounds unnatural. Also, “it seems” can stand alone as a parenthetical: “The meeting, it seems, has been moved.”
What is the past tense of “look” and “seem” as linking verbs?
Both follow regular patterns. Look → looked: “She looked tired yesterday.” Seem → seemed: “He seemed nervous during the interview.” “She looked as if she hadn’t slept.” “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Both are regular verbs in the past tense.
What is the difference between “look” (linking) and “look” (action)?
Look as a linking verb is followed by an adjective and expresses appearance: “She looks happy.” Look as an action verb is followed by a preposition or adverb and expresses the act of directing your eyes: “Look at me!” / “She looked out of the window.” The difference matters for grammar: “She looks beautiful” (linking, adjective) vs “She looked carefully” (action, adverb).
How do “look” and “seem” appear in IELTS and formal writing?
Both appear regularly. In formal academic writing, seem is preferred when expressing opinions or uncertain conclusions: “The data seem to suggest a correlation.” Look appears in less formal descriptions and comparisons: “The results look promising.” Seem is also more tentative, which is appropriate in academic writing where certainty is rare. Overusing look for seem (especially “it looks that”) is a common learner error.
What are good ways to practise look vs seem?
The best practice is exposure and substitution. Read quality English journalism and note which verb appears and why. When you write a sentence with look, try replacing it with seem — if it still works, is the meaning different? Practise the key grammar rule: “It seems that...” (YES), “It looks that...” (NO). Also practise seem + to-infinitive: “She seems to enjoy,” “He seems to know.”