somewhat
Americanadverb
noun
adverb
Etymology
Origin of somewhat
Explanation
The word somewhat means "slightly" or "to a moderate extent." Being somewhat excited to go on a trip means you're kind of looking forward to it, but you're not completely over-the-top thrilled about the prospect. A movie that you find somewhat interesting may hold your attention, at least for a while, but it doesn't fully amaze you. It probably won't stick with you after you've left the theater. Similarly, if you're somewhat tired, you're neither completely exhausted nor bursting with energy. The word somewhat captures the middle ground, where something is noticeable but not very pronounced and definitely not extreme.
Vocabulary lists containing somewhat
Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 1
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Lesson 1
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Vocabulary Review, Unit 5
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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.
Medicare patients fared somewhat better but were still between 4% and 12% more likely to wait a month or more than individuals with private coverage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
That shift brings the fossil record somewhat closer to estimates produced by molecular clock studies.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
Korea’s consumer price index increased 2.8% in July, slowing somewhat compared to June’s 3.2% but nonetheless it remains stubbornly above the bank’s 2% target – as it has done for more than five years.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
"There was, we find, a power imbalance between them that went beyond the obvious power imbalance of employer/employee," the tribunal said, noting that Morgan had been "somewhat reliant on Hawkes and sought his approval".
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“I’ll...mention that to her,” she said, even throwing in a somewhat strained smile.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
