somebody
Americanpronoun
noun
pronoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected 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.
In his own moment of terror, Gunn acted like a man jumping out of a cupboard trying to spook somebody.
From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026
“If it stands still, it runs the risk that somebody will come along and eat its lunch.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
“I think it is such a big deal to order somebody to war, to cause devastation and destruction, and then assume we can all just get over it.”
From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026
“I can teach somebody how to do a financial spreadsheet. I can teach someone how to do financial modeling. I can’t teach somebody how to be personable. I can’t teach effort,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026
This is exactly what happens, she thought, when you agree to play with somebody else.
From "Wolfie & Fly" by Cary Fagan
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.
