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
Lesson 1
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Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 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.
Varian Perception reversed from risk-on to risk-off based somewhat on buffers provided by strong earnings.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
These receptors act somewhat like communication switches, allowing cells to respond to signals from their surroundings.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
“Ticket prices are high enough anyway, and somewhat prohibitive to a working person or young person attending a game live,” Steinberg said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
And that depends somewhat on Bigfoot, which the area has long embraced as a mascot.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
“I feel somewhat incredulous as to Colonel Roosevelt having actually discovered a new river nearly one thousand miles long,” Markham said.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
