someone

American  

[suhm-wuhn, -wuhn] / ˈsʌmˌwʌn, -wən /

pronoun

1. some person; somebody.

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someone British  

/ ˈsʌmˌwʌn, -wən /

pronoun

1. some person; somebody

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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:

• someone vs. somebody

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

If you or someone you know has been affected by cancer, a list of organisations which may be able to help is available via the BBC Action Line.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Legal ethics experts stated that giving former client communications to someone suing the client could be a violation of attorney-client privilege.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Additionally, Montgomery once said that Carruthers was not involved in the triple murder and implicated someone else, a man named Ronnie Irving.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

He then did the same exercise for someone retiring in October 1968.

From Barron's • Apr. 19, 2026

I’m done trying to be someone I’m not.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• character
• leader
• official
• star