Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

somewhat

American  
[suhm-hwuht, -hwot, -hwuht, -wuht, -wot, -wuht] / ˈsʌmˌʰwʌt, -ˌʰwɒt, -ʰwət, -ˌwʌt, -ˌwɒt, -wət /

adverb

  1. in some measure or degree; to some extent.

    not angry, just somewhat disturbed.

noun

  1. some part, portion, amount, etc.

somewhat British  
/ ˈsʌmˌwɒt /

adverb

  1. (not used with a negative) rather; a bit

    she found it somewhat less easy than he
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of somewhat

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; some + what

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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing somewhat

Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 1

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Lesson 1

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Vocabulary Review, Unit 5

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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 brief “Target Practice” opens the LP with a jaunty acoustic guitar figure and Mr. Picton’s somewhat reedy voice, and then adds a string section and massed voices that ratchet up the density and volume.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

This is where the law is somewhat problematic.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Another 23% say they strongly approve of the job he is doing and another 25% somewhat approve.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

TD Cowen analyst Joshua Buchalter wrote on Thursday that Nvidia had been somewhat starved for momentum this year as investors looked for “derivative” ways to play the AI boom, beyond the main chip stocks.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

These intervals are all considered to be somewhat unpleasant or tension-producing.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

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.