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.
I could sit with someone new and tell the truth.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
The poll suggested that 74% of English people believe that someone can be English regardless of their skin colour or ethnic background.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
If someone were to come and talk with him face-to-face, "I would break down crying," he said.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Alex and André said someone from the Crown Prosecution Service had leaked a letter to them which revealed a series of failings, meaning opportunities were missed to stop Napper earlier.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
“Osda! Always happy to find someone to practice Tsalagi with.”
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.
