DictionaryAI

something

SUM-thing/ˈsʌm.θɪŋ/

Noun pluralsomethings

Verbsomethings, somethinging, somethinged

9 meanings of something

Practice

  1. 1
    vague thingpronoun
    A thing that you cannot name or do not know exactly.

    Like a box you have not opened yet: you know a thing is inside, but not what.

    I think I left something on the bus this morning.

    There's something moving in the bushes over there.

    UsagePut describing words after it: something new. With not, usually say anything: I didn't eat anything.

    Oppositenothing

  2. 2
    a marvelpronouncolloquial
    A person or thing that is very impressive or special.

    Like spotting a rainbow: it really stands out.

    That fireworks show last night was really something!

    You should see their new house. It's really something.

    UsageSay that's really something!

    Note
  3. 3
    bit of apronouncolloquial
    A partial amount of some quality: being a certain way but not fully.

    Like being halfway up a ladder: not at the bottom, not at the top.

    He is something of a cook, though not a professional one.

    The plan turned out to be something of a gamble.

    UsageSay something of a + noun.

    Note
  4. 4
    certain qualitypronouncolloquial
    A special quality or talent that is hard to describe.

    Like a special spark that some people just seem to have.

    That singer just has something the other contestants lack.

    She's got something that makes everyone listen when she speaks.

    UsageSay a certain something.

    Note
  5. 5
    a thingynouncountable
    A thing you call 'a something' because you don't know, can't remember, or can't say exactly what it is.

    Like saying 'thingy' when a name slips your mind.

    There's a little metal something stuck in the drain.

    He stuffed the little something back into his pocket without looking.

    Similarthing, object, item

    Note
  6. 6
    forgotten actionverbcolloquialtransitive or intransitive
    To do some action you cannot name because you forgot it or it does not matter.

    In that old song they something all night long, but I can never remember the word.

    You need to something the lid first. Oh, I mean twist it!

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 7
    veryadverbcolloquial
    Used before a describing word to make it stronger, meaning 'very'.

    The wind howled something awful all night long.

    My feet hurt something terrible after the long walk.

    UsageSay it hurts something awful.

    Note
  2. 8
    slightlyadverb
    A little, in some amount but not a lot.

    Like turning a dial only part of the way up.

    She looks something like her older sister.

    The bus ride took something over three hours.

    UsageSay something like: she looks something like her sister.

    Similarsomewhat, slightly, rather

    Note
  3. 9
    hard to describeadjective
    Having some quality that the speaker cannot find the right word for.

    "Your new haircut is very... very something," her brother said, staring at it.

    I don't know how to describe the soup. It's very something, but I'm not sure I like it.

    UsageSay it's very something when words fail you.

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of something apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English "sum þing," which literally meant "some thing." It comes from "some" plus "thing."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts