whereabouts

1 of 3

adverb

where·​abouts ˈ(h)wer-ə-ˌbau̇ts 

variants or less commonly whereabout

ˈ(h)wer-ə-ˌbau̇t 

: about where : near what place

whereabouts is the house

whereabouts

2 of 3

noun

variants or less commonly whereabout

singular or plural in construction

: the place or general locality where a person or thing is

their present whereabouts are a secret

whereabouts

3 of 3

conjunction

variants or less commonly whereabout

1

: near what place : where

know whereabouts he lives

2

obsolete : on what business or errand

Did you know?

Whereabouts Is or whereabouts Are?

Whereabouts may function as an adverb (“Whereabouts is it?”), a conjunction (“I know whereabouts he lives”), or a noun (“Her whereabouts were unknown”). The noun form may provoke confusion because it feels singular but looks plural; should one write “her whereabouts were” or "her whereabouts was”? Because the final -s is an adverbial suffix, not a plural ending (similar to the one at the end of besides), certain usage commentators have insisted on treating whereabouts as a singular noun. In spite of this, you should feel comfortable pairing it with a plural verb; while some have employed singular verbs with this word, the plural (“her whereabouts were”) has become the regular choice.

Synonyms

Adverb

• where
• whither

Examples of whereabouts in a Sentence

Adverb

Whereabouts did you park the car?

whereabouts do you expect to be on your journey tonight?

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Anyone with information on Amick’s whereabouts is urged to submit a tip using the U.S. Marshals Service web tip form, www.p3tips.com/USMS.aspx, or tip line, 877-WANTED-2 (indicate that the tip should be routed to the state of Pennsylvania, county of Washington). —Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2024

The Homeland Security Department can also work with other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to gather intelligence and learn the whereabouts of migrants. —Julia Ainsley, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

Investigators asked anyone with information about this hit-and-run or the whereabouts of the suspect vehicle to call Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024

IndyStar reached out to the Indianapolis Zoo several times Friday for an update on Momo's whereabouts but did not receive a response at the time of publication. —Jade Thomas, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Apr. 2024

Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding this incident or who knows the whereabouts of Turnage to call the Springfield Township Police Department at 513-729-1300 or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. —Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024

Cohen fueled conspiracy theories about Middleton’s whereabouts on social media. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024

His whereabouts for nearly a decade after graduating from high school in L.A. County are still largely a mystery. —Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024

However, some royals watchers began to voice concern about Middleton’s whereabouts in early February, shortly after the princess returned home to Windsor following a stay in the hospital. —Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English wheraboutes (from wher aboute + -s, adverb suffix) & wher aboute, from where, wher where + about, aboute about — more at whence

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

whereabouts

1 of 2 adverb

where·​abouts -ə-ˌbau̇ts 

variants also whereabout

-ˌbau̇t 

: about where

whereabouts is the house

whereabouts

2 of 2 noun singular or plural

: the place where a person or thing is

do you know their whereabouts