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.
Amid that landscape, a big shovel — perhaps the biggest shovel in the world — feels somewhat ordinary.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Vance sounded somewhat upbeat about the talks in Pakistan as he spoke to reporters on Friday just before his departure — though he warned Iran as well.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
On a somewhat related note, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, which would have easily made this list a decade ago, have since graduated off it, and are weathering a spike in fuel prices well.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
In comparison, discussion about whether his game is there to secure a rare back-to-back Masters win felt somewhat neglected.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
Now eighteen and dressed in an impeccably tailored suit with a white handkerchief deftly positioned in his breast pocket, he looked somewhat older and carried himself with an athletic swagger.
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.
