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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.

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Vocabulary lists containing somewhat

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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.

Somewhat confusingly Berkshire didn’t call out the $1.6 billion goodwill write-down related to certain units in its earnings release Saturday.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

Somewhat disappointingly for American investors looking for diversification, it largely depends on the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Somewhat chastened by that thought, one went for a walk; the nearby Mount Vernon Trail might be a good place for distraction from doomscrolling in the imagination.

From Salon • Sep. 1, 2025

Somewhat ironically, Terry admits he spent about a year learning piano before giving it up, dabbling with the drums and his school choir instead.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2025

Somewhat absentmindedly O’Brien felt two of his pockets and then produced a small leather-covered notebook and a gold ink pencil.

From "1984" by George Orwell

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.