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• something
  something

  pronoun

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

  combining form

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

Example Sentences

For most people, this is not something to worry about.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

Matty added: "Climbing mountains is not something Jack ever would have wanted us to stop doing. And now we're doing it with his dad - it's like we're bringing a piece of him with us."

From BBC • May 26, 2026

By focusing on the pace of the rally, investors might be overlooking something even more consequential, according to Ed Yardeni, a Wall Street veteran and founder of Yardeni Research.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

Lines like “I love you, I love the Lord” arrive with syllables modified to fit the shape of an eerie melody, transforming the natural musicality of speech into something uncanny.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

It was a huge ask, something you might try to trick a stranger into and hope for the best rather than deal with yourself.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• object
• thing