somewhere

Pluralsomewheres

1. 1
   some placeadverb

   In, at, or to a place that is not known or not named.

   The documents are filed somewhere in the basement archive.

   He grew up somewhere along the Gulf Coast, though he never says exactly where.

   UsageNo to before it: go somewhere (not incorrect: go to somewhere). In questions and negatives anywhere is more usual.

   Oppositenowhere

   Note

   The word is simply some plus where, and it does for place what someone does for people: it points at a location without naming it. It covers both position and direction, and the verb decides which: lie somewhere is position, go somewhere is direction.

2. 2
   about (a point)adverb

   At some point that is not precisely specified, often within a range of time, quantity, or sequence.

   Somewhere in the second chapter, the story takes a darker turn.

   The repairs will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of five thousand dollars.

   UsageMost often before between, around or in the region of and a number: somewhere around eight.

   Note

   Here the word has left geography behind and marks a point on a scale. Its everyday job is the estimate: somewhere between 200 and 300, somewhere in the neighborhood of a figure.

3. 3
   a placenouncountable

   A place or location that is unspecified or unknown.

   Finding somewhere affordable to rent has become the biggest worry for young people in the city.

   The hotel was fully booked, so we spent an hour looking for somewhere else to stay.

   UsageAdjectives and to + verb come after it: somewhere cheap, somewhere to stay, somewhere else.

   Similarplace

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