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

On Saturday in Budapest, Arsenal somehow avoided both—and still lost.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Measurements suggested the giant planet's rotation rate was changing over time, as if Saturn were somehow speeding up or slowing down.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

"Bluesky account got compromised and banned and then I got the account back somehow," Jake Tucker, editorial director at the PC Gaming Show, wrote on the platform.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

After Perry’s death, Morrison wrote, Iwamasa insisted on speaking at the funeral and clung to the family, “as if he was somehow the good guy who tried to save Matthew.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

When I first read the journal, I dreamed of somehow getting to be as brave as Abigail.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Related Words

• anyway