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

That something was Dieseruwe, who rose at the back post at the Pearl Street End to head home.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

I loved it — it was just something way different.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

It requires the contractor to pay a set fee for every day the project isn’t completed after the date specified in the contract, unless the delay is due to something outside the contractor’s control.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

The advertising-driven systemization of narrowcasting succeeded on the basis of exclusion, and the advertisers pursuing the disposable income of The Youth were not about to let TV networks give them something everyone could enjoy.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

What if the eye crinkles and the almost smiles are just him with something in his eye, or something stuck in his teeth?

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

Related Words

• object
• thing