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 Vatican says no extraordinary measures are being taken in relation to the Pope's health, describing him as a "71-year-old who has undergone an operation" not someone with a "permanent medical condition".
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
"I won't be going, as I'm not religious. But it's great that someone of such importance is coming," she said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
“But this time they gave it to someone who’s still alive,” he said, laughing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
The Bradford-based solicitor told his potential client he could avoid paying the fine if he was able to find someone overseas prepared to declare themselves the owner of the mini-mart.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
The only thing I know for sure is that I’m done trying to be someone I’m not.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
