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. Also: whereabout. 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

Neighbors said the family posted fliers of Celeste around the neighborhood, hoping to spread the word that someone would have information as to her whereabouts.

From Los Angeles Times

He said both were unreachable on phone and their whereabouts were unknown.

From BBC

She added that 17 military personnel were kidnapped and their whereabouts is unknown.

From BBC

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Jamieson's present whereabouts were "unknown".

From BBC

Los Angeles Police Department investigators are examining the photos as part of a wider investigation into Rivas whereabouts in the period before her death, according to two sources.

From Los Angeles Times