something

1 of 2

pronoun

some·​thing ˈsəm(p)-thiŋ 

 especially in rapid speech or for sense 2  ˈsəm-pᵊm

1

a

: some indeterminate or unspecified thing

b

: some indeterminate amount more than a specified number

—used in combination

twenty-something years old

a group of fifty-somethings

2

: a person or thing of consequence

3

: one having more or less the character, qualities, or nature of something different

is something of a bore

something

2 of 2

adverb

1

: in some degree : somewhat

2

—used as an intensive giving adverbial force to an adjective

swears something awful

Phrases

something else

: something or someone special or extraordinary

Synonyms

Adverb

• enough
• fairly
• kind of
• kindly [chiefly Southern]
• like
• moderately
• more or less
• pretty
• quite
• rather
• relatively
• somewhat
• sort of

Examples of something in a Sentence

Pronoun

Something came in the mail for you.

I thought I heard something outside.

He said something that really bothered me.

I started to say something but she interrupted me.

I have something to tell you.

There's something wrong with my car.

Something is going on at the school, but I don't know what.

“The job doesn't pay very well and the hours are long.” “I think you should look for something better.”

“They won't give us an extra week to finish, but they'll give us a couple of days.” “Well, that's something anyway.”

She thinks she's really something ever since her promotion.

Adverb

The total repairs cost something over $300.

The movie was something like what I expected.

Word History

First Known Use

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing something

• accept/take (something) on faith
• account for (someone or something)
• account for (something)
• a little something
• amount to something
• answer for (something)
• answer to (something)
• a peg to hang (something) on
• ascribe (something) to
• as far as (something) is concerned
• as/so far as (something) goes
• as/so far as (something) is concerned
• as (someone or something) goes
• as (something) as they come
• at someone's or something's mercy
• at the risk of (doing something)
• at the time of (something)
• attribute (something) to (someone or something)
• avoid (someone or something) like the plague
• awaken (someone or something) to (something)
• awaken to (something)
• bleed (someone/something) dry
• bow down to (someone or something)
• break from (someone or something)
• bring an end to (something)
• bring (something) alive
• bring (something) to an end
• bring (something) to a stop
• bring (something) to life
• bring (something) to someone's notice
• bristle with (something)
• buck for (something)
• bust out (something)
• bust (something) out
• call (something) to order
• catch (someone or something) by surprise
• catch (something) on camera
• chalk (something) up to
• change (something) over to
• clear up (something)
• close by (someone or something)
• close/hard/hot on someone's or something's heels
• come/follow close/hard/hot on something's heels
• come/follow close/hard/hot on the heels of (something)
• come in/within sight of (something)
• commit (something) to memory
• commit (something) to paper/writing
• count off (something)
• cry out against (something)
• defer to (something)
• dive (right) in/into (something)
• divest (oneself) of (something)
• do an injustice to (someone or something)
• do (someone or something) an injustice
• do something
• do something about
• do something to
• do something with
• do what with (something)
• drop/dump (something) in/into/on someone's lap
• eat/have someone or something for lunch
• eat someone's or something's lunch
• end in (something)
• feel/look like something the cat brought/dragged/drug in
• fob someone or something off
• fob something off as
• follow up on (something)
• force/ram/shove (something) down someone's throat
• force (something) down
• get around to (something)
• get down to (something)
• get in on (something)
• get off on (something)
• get on for (something)
• get on with (something or someone)
• get out of (something)
• get round to (something)
• get (someone or something) wrong
• get (someone) out of (something)
• get (something) off one's chest
• get (something) out of (something or someone)
• get (something) over with
• get (something) right
• get (something) straight
• get (something) through to (someone)
• give (oneself) up to (something)
• give (someone or something) a clean bill of health
• give (someone or something) a/the once-over
• give (someone or something) a wide berth
• give (something) a fling
• give (something) a jerk
• give (something) a miss
• give (something) a rest
• give (something) a second look
• give (something) a shot
• give (something) a whirl
• give (something) new life
• give (something) up as a bad job
• give up on (someone or something)
• go ahead with (something)
• good for (someone or something)
• go over/through (something) with a fine-tooth comb
• gum up (something)
• has something to recommend it
• have a fling at (something)
• have a (good) laugh about (something)
• have a high opinion of (something)
• have a low opinion of (something)
• have anything/something to say about
• have a way of (being something or doing something)
• have (got) someone or something covered
• have (got) (something) down to a science
• have/keep (something) up one's sleeve
• have one's heart set on (something)
• have/share (something) in common
• have (someone or something) (all) to oneself
• have (someone or something) in mind
• have (someone or something) to thank for (something)
• have (something) (all) to oneself
• have (something) back
• have (something) going for one
• have (something) to spare
• have (something) written all over it
• hear the last of (something)
• heat (something) up
• heat up (something)
• hold back (someone or something )
• hold/keep/play (something) close to one's chest
• hold/keep/play (something) close to the vest
• hold (someone or something) in high regard
• hush up (someone or something)
• in defense of (something or someone)
• in order for (someone or something) to
• in someone's or something's clutches
• in someone's or something's wake
• in someone's/something's name
• in someone's/something's stead
• in something's or someone's defense
• intent on/upon (something)
• in the act (of doing something)
• in the direction of (something)
• in the process of (doing something)
• keep a watchful eye on (someone or something)
• keep (someone or something) at arm's length
• keep (someone or something) back
• keep (someone or something) going
• keep (something) under one's hat
• kiss something goodbye
• knock (something) on the head
• know something backward and forward
• know something backwards
• know something inside and out
• know something inside out
• know something like the back of one's hand
• know something or someone for what it/he/she is
• know something when one sees it/one
• know the meaning of (something)
• lay/put (something) to rest
• lay the blame for (something) at someone's door
• learn (something) at one's mother's knee
• learn to live with something
• leave (someone or something) be
• leave something to the imagination
• let (someone) in on (something)
• let (someone or something) be
• let (something) rest
• let (something) ride
• let (something) slide
• let (something) slip
• light up (something)
• live on (something)
• live out (something)
• live to regret (something)
• lose (something) in translation
• make a big deal (out) of (something)
• make a big thing about/out of (something)
• make a muck of (something)
• make a point of (doing something)
• make a song and dance about (something)
• make it a point to (do something)
• make (something) into a big deal
• make (something) known
• make something of it
• make something of (oneself)
• make something of one's life
• make (something) one's own
• make (something) stick
• make up for (something)
• mean something to (someone)
• meant to (be/do something)
• mess about with (something)
• mess around with (something)
• mess (something or someone) up
• milk/bleed/suck (someone or something) dry
• monkey about with (something)
• monkey around with (something)
• nip (something) in the bud
• not for (someone) to (do something)
• not like the sound of (something)
• not so much (something) as (something else)
• not touch (someone or something) with a bargepole
• not touch (someone or something) with a ten-foot pole
• on/at the point of (doing something)
• one's heart is (just) not in something
• on the/someone's/something's way out
• onto something
• open (someone or something) to (someone or something)
• or something
• pack (someone or something) in
• pack (something) up
• pass (someone or something) off as
• pass (something) down
• pass (something) in
• pattern (something) on
• pave the way for (something or someone)
• pick (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
• pick (something) clean
• pile (something) on
• play at being (something)
• play (someone or something) off against (someone or something)
• point up (something)
• praise (someone or something) to the skies
• press (someone or something) into service
• press (something) on (someone)
• pretend to (something)
• pump (someone or something) full of (something)
• push (something) out of one's mind
• push (something) to the back of one's mind
• put a name to (someone or something)
• put an end to (something)
• put (oneself) over as (something)
• put/set one's mind to (something)
• put/set (something) to rights
• put (someone) in mind of (something)
• put (someone or something) in the shade
• put (someone or something) through his/her/its paces
• put (someone or something) to shame
• put (someone or something) to the test
• put (something) behind (oneself)
• put (something) down to
• put (something) into practice
• put (something) into service
• put (something) into words
• put (something or someone) on the map
• put (something) out of one's mind
• put (something) over on (someone)
• put (something) together with
• put (something) to (good) use
• put the screws on/to (someone or something)
• quite something
• ram (something) home
• reduce (something) to ashes
• ride on (something or someone)
• rid (someone or something) of
• rolling in (something)
• root (someone or something) on
• see (something) in (something or someone)
• see the last of (someone or something)
• send away for (something)
• send away to (someone) for (something)
• send off for (something)
• send out for (something)
• set (oneself) up as (something)
• set/put (something) straight
• set something afire/aflame/ablaze
• set something on fire
• set (something) on its ear
• set (something or someone) against
• settle on/upon (something)
• settle (someone or something) down
• settle (something) on (someone)
• set up as (something)
• set up in (something)
• sic (something) on (someone or something)
• sing someone's/something's praises
• sing the praises of (someone/something)
• someone's life depends on (something)
• someone's world revolves around (someone or something)
• something/anything of the kind
• something else
• something fierce
• something has (got) to give
• something like
• something of
• something or other
• stake one's life on (something)
• stand someone/something in good stead
• start something
• stay out of (something)
• stick out for (something)
• string along with (someone or something)
• surround oneself with (someone or something)
• sweep (something) under the carpet
• sweep (something) under the rug
• swing at (someone or something)
• take away from (something)
• take (someone or something) by surprise
• take (someone or something) seriously
• take (something) as a sign
• take (something) as given
• take (something) as read
• take (something) by storm
• take something for what it's worth
• take (something) in good part
• take (something) in one's stride
• take (something) in stride
• take (something) into consideration
• take (something) into one's (own) hands
• take (something) lying down
• take (something) on board
• take something on trust
• take (something) out on (someone)
• take something the wrong way
• take (something) to heart
• take (something) under advisement
• take (something) with a grain/pinch of salt
• take the place of (someone or something)
• take to something like a duck (takes) to water
• talk (oneself) out of (something)
• talk one's way out of (something)
• tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
• tee off on (someone or something)
• that's/there's (something/someone) for you
• the odds are in favor of (something)
• the specter of (something)
• throw (something) out the window
• tone in with (something)
• to subject (someone or something) to
• touch (someone) for (something)
• try (something) on for size
• turn around and (do something)
• turn out like (someone or something)
• turn out to be (something)
• turn round and (do something)
• turn (someone) on to (something)
• turn (something) inside out
• turn (something) over in one's mind
• turn (something) to (good) account
• turn (something) upside down
• turn upon (something)
• under someone's/something's name
• under the name (of) (someone/something)
• unfamiliar with (something)
• walk away with (something)
• watch (someone or something) like a hawk
• wave (someone or something) through
• what is (someone) doing with (something)
• winkle (someone or something) out of
• wipe (someone or something) off the face of the earth
• wipe (someone or something) off the map
• wipe (something) clean
• wish (someone or something) on (someone)
• within sight of (something)
• with (something) to spare
• wouldn't touch (something) with a 10-foot pole
• write off for (something)
• you know something?

Kids Definition

something

1 of 2 pronoun

some·​thing ˈsəm(p)-thiŋ 

 especially in rapid speech or for sense 2  ˈsəmp-ᵊm

1

: some unnamed or unspecified thing

something must be done about it

2

: an important person or thing

decided to make something of myself

something

2 of 2 adverb

1

: somewhat entry 2

was something less than perfect

2

: very entry 2 sense 1

snores something awful