something

American  

[suhm-thing] / ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. some thing; a certain undetermined or unspecified thing.

   Something is wrong there.

   Something's happening.

2. an additional amount, as of cents or minutes, that is unknown, unspecified, or forgotten.

   He charged me ten something for the hat.

   Our train gets in at two something.

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noun

1. Informal. a person or thing of some value or consequence.

   He is really something!

   This writer has something to say and she says it well.

adverb

1. in some degree; to some extent; somewhat.

2. Informal. to a high or extreme degree; quite.

   He took on something fierce about my tardiness.

something ¹ British  

/ ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. an unspecified or unknown thing; some thing

   he knows something you don't

   take something warm with you

2. an unspecified or unknown amount; bit

   something less than a hundred

3. an impressive or important person, thing, or event

   isn't that something?

4. a remarkable person or thing

5. one unspecified thing or an alternative thing

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adverb

1. to some degree; a little; somewhat

   to look something like me

2. informal (foll by an adjective) (intensifier)

   it hurts something awful

-something ² British  

combining form

1. 1. a person whose age can be approximately expressed by a specified decade

   2. ( as modifier )

      the thirtysomething market

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something Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing something

• (something) or other
• buy something
• get (have) something on someone
• get something straight
• have something against
• hold (something) over
• hold something against
• look like something the cat dragged in
• make something of
• not put something past one
• on the ball, have something
• pull something on
• start something
• take something
• you know something

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Etymology

Origin of something

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English sum thing; some, thing ¹

Example Sentences

“I’m not saying don’t do favors. But you can say, ‘This is something I need to charge for, that I need to be rewarded for.’

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

"You can't say that it's something that's needed and then not be somewhat willing to allow a facility to be there," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Cabinet officials come and go, but the near-immediate removal of Bondi’s image signaled something closer to erasure than transition, a rapid closing of ranks inside a department that had already been under pressure.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

It was nice to see Dodgers owner Mark Walter say that baseball has to “come up with something that will give us some parity.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

“Do you see it now, Lexie? Because you can’t protect yourself from something you can’t see.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• object
• thing