SOMETHING


Meaning of SOMETHING in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ sʌmθɪŋ ]

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.

You use something to refer to a thing, situation, event, or idea, without saying exactly what it is.

He realized right away that there was something wrong...

There was something vaguely familiar about him...

The garden was something special...

‘You said there was something you wanted to ask me,’ he said politely...

There was something in her attitude that bothered him...

PRON : oft PRON adj , PRON adj about n

2.

You can use something to say that the description or amount that you are giving is not exact.

Clive made a noise, something like a grunt...

There was something around a thousand dollars in the office strong box...

Their membership seems to have risen to something over 10,000.

PRON : PRON prep

3.

If you say that a person or thing is something or is really something , you mean that you are very impressed by them. ( INFORMAL )

The doors here are really something, all made of good wood like mahogany...

PRON

4.

You can use something in expressions like ‘ that’s something ’ when you think that a situation is not very good but is better that it might have been.

Well, at least he was in town. That was something...

PRON

5.

If you say that a thing is something of a disappointment, you mean that it is quite disappointing. If you say that a person is something of an artist, you mean that they are quite good at art.

The city proved to be something of a disappointment...

She received something of a surprise when Robert said that he was coming to New York...

PRON : PRON of n

6.

If you say that there is something in an idea or suggestion, you mean that it is quite good and should be considered seriously.

Christianity has stood the test of time, so there must be something in it...

Could there be something in what he said?

PRON : PRON in n

7.

You use something in expressions such as ‘ or something ’ and ‘ or something like that ’ to indicate that you are referring to something similar to what you have just mentioned but you are not being exact.

This guy, his name was Briarly or Beardly or something...

The air fare was about a hundred and ninety-nine pounds or something like that.

PRON [ vagueness ]

8.

something like: see like

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.