someone
SUHM-wuhn
Someone (pronoun) means an unspecified or unidentified person. Example: “Someone knocked on the door late last night.”
pronoun
1
An unspecified or unidentified person.
"Can you get me someone more knowledgeable?"
"Someone knocked on the door late last night."
"You should ask someone who actually knows the answer."
"Can someone help me, please?"
"Could someone please turn off the lights when they leave?"
How to use someone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn unnamed or unknown person.
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Word forms
- Plural
- someones
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Can you complete this real example?
_____ knocked on the door late last night.
Etymology
From Middle English sum on, "some one".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for someone
See all rhymes for someone →Frequently asked questions
What does “someone” mean?
The word “someone” means an unspecified or unidentified person. In plain terms, an unnamed or unknown person.
How do you pronounce “someone”?
“Someone” is pronounced SUHM-wuhn (/ˈsʌmwʌn/ in IPA).
How do you use “someone” in a sentence?
Here is “someone” used in a sentence: “Someone knocked on the door late last night.”
What part of speech is “someone”?
“Someone” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “someone” come from?
The word “someone” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sum on, "some one".
Is “someone” a common word?
“Someone” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between someone and somebody?
There is no difference in meaning — both refer to an unspecified person, and they are fully interchangeable. The only slight distinction is tone: 'somebody' can feel a touch more informal or conversational, while 'someone' is marginally more neutral. Either is correct in almost any sentence.
What is the difference between someone and anyone?
'Someone' suggests a particular, though unidentified, person and suits positive statements: 'Someone called for you.' 'Anyone' refers to any person at all, with no one in mind, and fits questions and negatives: 'Did anyone call?' or 'I didn't see anyone.' The choice shifts the meaning subtly.
Is 'someone' singular or plural?
'Someone' is grammatically singular and takes a singular verb: 'Someone is waiting.' However, it is very common and widely accepted to refer back to it with 'they' when the person's gender is unknown, as in 'Someone left their coat.' This neatly avoids the clumsy 'his or her.'
What is an example of 'someone' in a sentence?
'Someone is knocking at the door,' 'I need someone to help me,' and 'She is someone I truly admire' all use the pronoun. It stands in for a person whose identity is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately left vague in the sentence.
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