Definition of whereabouts
: about where : near what place
- whereabouts is the house
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Examples of whereabouts in a Sentence
Whereabouts did you park the car?
whereabouts do you expect to be on your journey tonight?
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.
Origin and Etymology of whereabouts
Middle English wheraboutes (from wher aboute + -s, adverb suffix) & wher aboute, from where, wher where + about, aboute about — more at whence
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 14th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearDefinition of whereabouts
1
obsolete
: on what business or errand
2
: near what place : where
- know whereabouts he lives
First Known Use of whereabouts
14th century
Definition of whereabouts
also whereabout
: the place or general locality where a person or thing is
- their present whereabouts are a secret
Recent Examples of whereabouts from the Web
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Anyone who has seen Paul Sittser, or has information about his whereabouts, should contact the Clackamas County Sheriff.
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Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Port Washington Police Department at (262) 284-2611.
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Police ask anyone with information about Grant's whereabouts to contact Seventh District detectives at 504-658-6077 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
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Anyone with information about Brooks' whereabouts should call Monroe Police at 704-282-4700 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600.
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Anyone who has information pertaining to his whereabouts is being asked to call CrimeStoppers at 513-352-3040.
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One student told him that someone who came under suspicion for odd behavior and lying about his whereabouts might have been kicked out.
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Anyone with information as to his whereabouts was asked to call the department’s Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293.
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Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to call police at 860-645-5500.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whereabouts.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of whereabouts
1605
WHEREABOUTS Defined for English Language Learners
whereabouts
Definition of whereabouts for English Language Learners
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: the location of a person or thing
WHEREABOUTS Defined for Kids
Definition of whereabouts for Students
: near what place
- Whereabouts did you lose it?
Definition of whereabouts for Students
: the place where someone or something is
Hint:
Whereabouts can be used as a singular or plural in writing and speaking.
- … she knew the whereabouts of every fallen tree and hidden gully.
- —John Reynolds Gardiner, Stone Fox
Learn More about whereabouts
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See words that rhyme with whereabouts Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for whereabouts Spanish Central: Translation of whereabouts Nglish: Translation of whereabouts for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of whereabouts for Arabic speakers
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