somebody
SUHMB-o-dee
Somebody (pronoun) means an unspecified or unknown person. Example: “Could somebody please open the window? It is very hot in here.”
pronoun
1
An unspecified or unknown person.
"Somebody has to clean this mess up."
"Could somebody please open the window? It is very hot in here."
"I think somebody is knocking at the front door."
"Somebody left their umbrella in the hallway."
noun
1
A person of importance or fame.
"After the film made her famous, she felt like a real somebody."
"He thought that owning a fast car would make him somebody."
"He always dreamed of being a somebody in the music industry."
"In the nature of things a good many somebodies are always in hospital, and the law of averages had picked on me to be one of them a week or so before."
— John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids (1951)
How to use somebody
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "an unnamed person" or, informally, "someone important".
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- somebodies, somebodys
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Could _____ please open the window? It is very hot in here.
Etymology
From Middle English sum body, literally "some body" — some + body.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for somebody
See all rhymes for somebody →Frequently asked questions
What does “somebody” mean?
The word “somebody” means an unspecified or unknown person. In plain terms, either "an unnamed person" or, informally, "someone important".
How do you pronounce “somebody”?
“Somebody” is pronounced SUHMB-o-dee (/ˈsʌmˌbədi/ in IPA).
How do you use “somebody” in a sentence?
Here is “somebody” used in a sentence: “Somebody left their umbrella in the hallway.”
What part of speech is “somebody”?
Depending on how it is used, “somebody” can be a pronoun and a noun.
Where does the word “somebody” come from?
The word “somebody” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sum body, literally "some body" — some + body.
Is “somebody” a common word?
“Somebody” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “somebody” have?
“Somebody” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an unspecified or unknown person.
What is the difference between somebody and someone?
There is virtually no difference in meaning; both refer to an unspecified person. Someone is often felt to be slightly more formal or neutral, while somebody can sound a touch more conversational. They are interchangeable in almost every sentence, so you can safely choose whichever reads more naturally.
What is the difference between somebody and anybody?
Somebody suggests a particular though unidentified person and suits positive statements, as in somebody called for you. Anybody refers to no specific person and fits questions and negatives, as in is anybody there or nobody answered. The choice signals whether you have a definite person in mind.
Can somebody mean an important person?
Yes. Used with emphasis, somebody can mean a person of significance, as in she really wants to be somebody. In this sense it contrasts with nobody, meaning a person of no importance. Context and stress make clear whether you mean an unspecified person or someone notable.
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