somehow

[ suhm-hou ]

adverb

1. in some way not specified, apparent, or known.

somehow

/ ˈsʌmˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in some unspecified way
2. Alsosomehow or other by any means that are necessary

Word History and Origins

Origin of somehow¹

First recorded in 1655–65; some + how ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. somehow or other, in an undetermined way; by any means possible:

   She was determined to finish college somehow or other.

More idioms and phrases containing somehow

see under or other .

Example Sentences

There is no such thing as speech so hateful or offensive it somehow “justifies” or “legitimizes” the use of violence.

From The Daily Beast

Michelle Obama tweeting a hashtag is somehow cause for outrage.

From The Daily Beast

The whys the wherefores, I think a lot of that is somehow a link from decoding texts, as they say in graduate school.

From The Daily Beast

Somehow, the brevity of the message creates an inverse potential for misunderstanding.

From The Daily Beast

Is it somehow jarring to some people that the father who spoke these words is not black but white?

From The Daily Beast

This wasn't at all what he meant to say, and it sounded very ridiculous; but somehow the words wouldn't come straight.

From Project Gutenberg

All the operations of her brain related themselves somehow to to-morrow afternoon.

From Project Gutenberg

The Kangaroo can hop and hop and hop; Somehow he never seems to want to stop.

From Project Gutenberg

Somehow it made me feel sad to hear it, and a sense of the transitoriness of things came over me.

From Project Gutenberg

"But I don't see what you can shoot with it," said Davy, feeling that he was somehow getting the worst of the argument.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anyway