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 intensified somewhat when news broke that Clarke had penned a new four-year deal at the end of last month.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
But astronomers’ ability to find any such planet remains somewhat limited by the restrictions of even unmanned space travel.
From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026
Their independent expenditures helped supplement Mr. Becerra’s relatively small $17 million war-chest and somewhat evened the lopsided field with Mr. Steyer’s $216 million self-funded campaign.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Then came the World Cup, and for a month, a curious if somewhat bemused country sampled the world’s game up close.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
His connection to the Church was always somewhat ambiguous.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
