Seemed to be copied eating fruit (8)
I believe the answer is:
appeared
'seemed' is the definition.
('appear' can be a synonym of 'seem')
'copied eating fruit' is the wordplay.
'copied' becomes 'aped' ('ape' can be a synonym of 'copy').
'eating' indicates putting letters inside.
'fruit' becomes 'pear' (pear is a kind of fruit).
'aped' placed around 'pear' is 'APPEARED'.
'to be' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for appeared that I've seen before include "Came into sight" , "Seemed - performed - emerged" , "Turned up" , "published" , "Became visible" .)