some

³some

adv \ˈsəm, ˌsəm\

Definition of SOME

1

: about <some 80 houses> <twenty-some people>

2

a : in some degree : somewhat <felt some better> b : to some degree or extent : a little <the cut bled some> <I need to work on it some more> c —used as a mild intensive <that's going some>

Usage Discussion of SOME

When some is used to modify a number, it is almost always a round number <a community of some 150,000 inhabitants> but because some is slightly more emphatic than about or approximately it is occasionally used with a more exact number in an intensive function <an expert parachutist, he has some 115 jumps to his credit — Current Biography>. When some is used without a number, most commentators feel that somewhat is to be preferred. Their advice is an oversimplification, however; only when some modifies an adjective, usually a comparative, will somewhat always substitute smoothly. When some modifies a verb or adverb, and especially when it follows a verb, substitution of somewhat may prove awkward <Italy forced me to grow up some — E. W. Brooke> <I'm not a prude; I've been around some in my day — Roy Rogers> <here in Newport, both Southern Cross and Courageous practiced some more — W. N. Wallace>.

Examples of SOME

1. Would you like some more potatoes?
2. I need to work on it some more.

First Known Use of SOME

before 12th century

Related to SOME

Synonyms: about, around, like, more or less, much, near, plus or minus, roughly, say, approximately

Antonyms: exactly, precisely

Related Words: generally, kind of, loosely; nearly, nominally, practically, virtually, well-nigh

Near Antonyms: due, even, just, sharp, smack-dab, squarely

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