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• something
  something

  pronoun

  some thing; a certain undetermined or unspecified thing.
• -something
  -something

something

American  

[suhm-thing] / ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. some thing; a certain undetermined or unspecified thing.

   Something is wrong there.

   Something's happening.

2. an additional amount, as of cents or minutes, that is unknown, unspecified, or forgotten.

   He charged me ten something for the hat.

   Our train gets in at two something.

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noun

1. Informal. a person or thing of some value or consequence.

   He is really something!

   This writer has something to say and she says it well.

adverb

1. in some degree; to some extent; somewhat.

2. Informal. to a high or extreme degree; quite.

   He took on something fierce about my tardiness.

something ¹ British  

/ ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. an unspecified or unknown thing; some thing

   he knows something you don't

   take something warm with you

2. an unspecified or unknown amount; bit

   something less than a hundred

3. an impressive or important person, thing, or event

   isn't that something?

4. a remarkable person or thing

5. one unspecified thing or an alternative thing

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adverb

1. to some degree; a little; somewhat

   to look something like me

2. informal (foll by an adjective) (intensifier)

   it hurts something awful

-something ² British  

combining form

1. 1. a person whose age can be approximately expressed by a specified decade

   2. ( as modifier )

      the thirtysomething market

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something Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing something

• (something) or other
• buy something
• get (have) something on someone
• get something straight
• have something against
• hold (something) over
• hold something against
• look like something the cat dragged in
• make something of
• not put something past one
• on the ball, have something
• pull something on
• start something
• take something
• you know something

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Etymology

Origin of something

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English sum thing; see some, thing ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

something -something

Miranda and Leigh-Anne were blissfully unaware that next door, something much more boring but ultimately more consequential was unfolding.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

When someone writes a will, they typically have an idyllic vision of leaving behind something that will provide joy for generations of heirs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

"It's hard to accept that a neighbor could do something like that."

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

“It’s unexpected how something like that can accelerate into such a contentious situation,” Levinson says, “where well-educated people in a wonderful community can’t figure things out.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Before I can pick something out, the flyer draws my attention again.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

In other words, the coronagraph acts like an artificial Moon, blocking the Sun's bright surface to let scientists continuously observe its faint outer corona -something the real Moon does only during eclipses.

From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2025

She wanted to encourage conversations about grief -something she already had experience of.

From BBC ● Nov. 19, 2022

Reporters would presumably be informed of "secret" material only by notice in the Federal Register -something like notice of divorce suit by advertisement.

From Time Magazine Archive

‘An elemental comes into being when something hugely powerful dies -something like a waterfall or an ice river -and its souls are scattered. An elemental is the strongest demon of all.’

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

And yet -something was nagging him: something about Wolf.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

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Related Words

• object
• thing

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