whereabouts

[ hwair-uh-bouts, wair- ]

adverb

1. about where? where?

conjunction

1. near or in what place:

   trying to find whereabouts in the world we were.

noun

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) the place where a person or thing is; the locality of a person or thing:

   no clue as to his whereabouts.

whereabouts

/ ˈwɛərəˌbaʊts /

adverb

1. Alsowhereabout at what approximate location or place; where

   whereabouts are you?

2. obsolete.
   about or concerning which

noun

1. functioning as singular or plural the place, esp the approximate place, where a person or thing is

Word History and Origins

Origin of whereabouts¹

1400–50; late Middle English wheraboutes, equivalent to Middle English wheraboute ( whereabout ) + -s -s ¹

Example Sentences

Speculations swirled around Ma’s whereabouts after media reported in December that he skipped the taping of a TV program he created.

From TechCrunch

For the past few months Norah has fretted over the whereabouts of her husband who went missing after trying to find a cure for his wife’s mysterious illness.

From Washington Post

When McDonald didn’t attend a news conference with the Jets’ owner and Mehta began calling and texting about his whereabouts, McDonald blocked Mehta’s number, he said.

From Washington Post

I don’t need those money-grubbers in the Valley tracking my whereabouts or knowing anything about my health.

From Fortune

Corado said the woman identifying herself as the client’s grandmother was asking about the client’s whereabouts.

From Washington Blade

While Faal and Njie are in U.S. custody, the whereabouts of the other survivors is unknown.

From The Daily Beast

Picasso accused the other of knowing the whereabouts of the Mona Lisa.

From The Daily Beast

Today, researchers are flummoxed as to the whereabouts of this gargantuan cultural artifact.

From The Daily Beast

After all, he lived with himself 24/7, so he could do a much better job chronicling his whereabouts than the FBI.

From The Daily Beast

He took my phone and canceled all of my plans for the following week to make sure no one could worry about my whereabouts.

From The Daily Beast

It was almost night, and Harry decided to go into camp, as he had not learned the exact whereabouts of Poindexter.

From Project Gutenberg

He hath in his keeping certain papers that concern the Roshinara Begum of Delhi, and he must be made to confess their whereabouts.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he broke off, and when he next gave hint of his whereabouts, it was to hail us from the nearest point on the canyon rim.

From Project Gutenberg

I must learn Florimond's whereabouts, if only that we may go to meet him when we leave Condillac to-night.

From Project Gutenberg

Boutin aided him as best he could and took it upon himself to go to Paris and inform Mme. Chabert of her husband's whereabouts.

From Project Gutenberg