someone
Americanpronoun
pronoun
Etymology
Origin of someone
Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at some, one
Compare meaning
How does someone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
The word someone refers a person or an individual, but not necessarily a specific one. If you're not hungry enough for dessert after lunch, you can ask the friends at your table, "Does someone want my ice cream sandwich?" It's a funny contradiction, but the noun someone can be used to mean "any unspecified person," but also "a very important person." So a child might say, "When I grow up, I want to be someone," meaning that they want to be well-known or famous, or just really good at something. Someone and somebody are synonyms, so you can use them interchangeably, although someone is slightly more formal.
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.
The process is similar to a vacant seat being filled as soon as someone gets up.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
"When someone is looking for the community council and are met with this gambling portal they will think something is wrong and of course not engage with the site," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
“If you want to elect someone knowing they have someone that’s connected, it’s the voters’ choice,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
It is bizarre to watch someone like Alan Ritchson follow in the footsteps of Charlie Chaplin.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026
“Everything all right up there?” someone called from the back.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
