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.
That was somewhat anemic compared with J&J’s pharmaceutical segment, where sales rose 7.7% and beat Wall Street estimates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
After huge increases in the second quarter in markets-related business, revenue growth was expected to moderate somewhat in the just-finished July-September quarter.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
With its short fur and broad, flattened tail, Megacauda sungei would have looked somewhat like a modern otter, beaver, or platypus.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026
"So you want management who are somewhat independent and able to run it."
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
The one he kept was black, which seemed to hide some of the inevitable wrinkles that came with travel, so he could arrive at his destination looking somewhat presentable.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
