something

American  

[suhm-thing] / ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. some thing; a certain undetermined or unspecified thing.

   Something is wrong there.

   Something's happening.

2. an additional amount, as of cents or minutes, that is unknown, unspecified, or forgotten.

   He charged me ten something for the hat.

   Our train gets in at two something.

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noun

1. Informal. a person or thing of some value or consequence.

   He is really something!

   This writer has something to say and she says it well.

adverb

1. in some degree; to some extent; somewhat.

2. Informal. to a high or extreme degree; quite.

   He took on something fierce about my tardiness.

something ¹ British  

/ ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. an unspecified or unknown thing; some thing

   he knows something you don't

   take something warm with you

2. an unspecified or unknown amount; bit

   something less than a hundred

3. an impressive or important person, thing, or event

   isn't that something?

4. a remarkable person or thing

5. one unspecified thing or an alternative thing

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adverb

1. to some degree; a little; somewhat

   to look something like me

2. informal (foll by an adjective) (intensifier)

   it hurts something awful

-something ² British  

combining form

1. 1. a person whose age can be approximately expressed by a specified decade

   2. ( as modifier )

      the thirtysomething market

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something Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing something

• (something) or other
• buy something
• get (have) something on someone
• get something straight
• have something against
• hold (something) over
• hold something against
• look like something the cat dragged in
• make something of
• not put something past one
• on the ball, have something
• pull something on
• start something
• take something
• you know something

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Etymology

Origin of something

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English sum thing; some, thing ¹

Example Sentences

Apple’s CEO was staring at something that he hadn’t seen in decades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

"It is something that can work, but that's not the norm," Blackwell said.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

For his induction to the Five-Timers Club, Black was joined by a jacket-clad Hill who revealed that there’s something wrong with the lounge where the Five Timers hang out.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

"I don't mean rainbow colors, but you know, dark browns or tan colors because that tells us something about the composition, and that tells us something about the history of the Moon."

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

“This is something I wrote for school. It’s about a caterpillar.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• object
• thing