somehow

American  

[suhm-hou] / ˈsʌmˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in some way not specified, apparent, or known.

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idioms

1. somehow or other, in an undetermined way; by any means possible.

   She was determined to finish college somehow or other.

somehow British  

/ ˈsʌmˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in some unspecified way

2. Also: somehow or other.  by any means that are necessary

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somehow More Idioms  

1. see under or other.

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Etymology

Origin of somehow

First recorded in 1655–65; some + how ¹

Explanation

Somehow means "in some unknown way" or "by some means." When you watch a superhero movie, you know that the heroine will somehow escape the trap set by the evil villain — you're just not sure exactly how she'll do it. Your best friend might not notice your new haircut, but he still might remark, "You look different somehow." When you use this adverb in this particular way, it means "in an unknown way or for an unknown reason." So your pal knows you changed something, but he can't quite figure out what it is. When somehow first appeared in print, around 1660, it was in the phrase "somehow or other."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

somehow

But Neill is up to the task, creating an atmosphere of sheer bleakness with little more than a look that is, somehow, both vacant and teeming with emotion.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026

The Argentine number 10 leapt for a ball with England goalkeeper Peter Shilton but, somehow unnoticed, he opted to punch the ball into the empty net.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Alex’s attorneys somehow backroomed a deal with the Texas Court of Appeals and got it to put an emergency stay on anything happening.

From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2026

But that night in Oslo somehow transformed Norway into England’s most unlikely nemesis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

This should make me relieved, but I somehow find it irritating in an entirely different way.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• anyway