somebody
Americanpronoun
noun
pronoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of somebody
Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at some, body
Compare meaning
How does somebody compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
When you're talking about a person, but not a specific one, use the word somebody. If you cook more than you can eat yourself, you might ask, "Does somebody want this extra macaroni and cheese?" Interestingly, synonyms for somebody include "whoever" and "superstar." In other words, you can use this pronoun to mean any random individual, like when you suggest that somebody is likely to get hurt at a busy intersection near your house. But you can also use it for a very important, well-known, successful, or famous person: "I don't want to get stuck in this small town — I want to be somebody!"
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I think sometimes it’s helpful just having somebody who’s there to hold your hand,” she says of her friend Liou.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
“Imagine somebody is in your house saying this is not your house,” Domagala said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Here is somebody who has made a series of serious missteps.
From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026
"That would have made quite a difference to be honest; somebody acknowledging what happened to the children who were placed in their care."
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
“Thick, warm ash fell and we couldn’t see again. This time there was no wind. It fell densely, like somebody pouring a bag of fine sand over your head.”
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
