Notice a large number appear (4)

I believe the answer is:

seem

'appear' is the definition.
(I know that appear can be written as seem)

'notice a large number' is the wordplay.
'notice' becomes 'see' (notice can mean to spot or see).
'a large number' becomes 'm' ().
'see'+'m'='SEEM'

(Other definitions for seem that I've seen before include "Come across as" , "Appear, look" , "Appear, give impression of being" , "Appear to the eye" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Telegraph.

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