whereabouts

adverb

where·abouts | \ ˈhwer-ə-ˌbau̇ts

How to pronounce whereabouts (audio)

, ˈwer-\

variants: or less commonly whereabout \ ˈhwer-ə-ˌbau̇t

How to pronounce whereabout (audio)

, ˈwer- \

Definition of whereabouts

(Entry 1 of 3)

: about where : near what place whereabouts is the house

whereabouts

conjunction

variants: or less commonly whereabout

Definition of whereabouts (Entry 2 of 3)

1 obsolete : on what business or errand

2 : near what place : where know whereabouts he lives

whereabouts

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

also whereabout

Definition of whereabouts (Entry 3 of 3)

: the place or general locality where a person or thing is their present whereabouts are a secret

Synonyms Whereabouts Is or whereabouts Are? More Example Sentences Learn More about whereabouts

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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.

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, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact authorities. — Kristin Lam, USA TODAY, "Police: A 69-year-old Arizona woman is missing in California's Mojave Desert without supplies, cellphone," 15 July 2019 Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office or CrimeStoppers. — Ivana Hrynkiw | Ihrynkiw@al.com, al.com, "Hoover police identify man wanted in CBD theft," 12 July 2019 Her lawyer declined to comment on her whereabouts and on the health of the baby. — Stephanie Innes, azcentral, "A look inside the walls of embattled Hacienda HealthCare," 12 July 2019 Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Baytown Police Department at 281-422-8371 or 911. — Massarah Mikati, Houston Chronicle, "86-year-old man missing in Baytown," 14 June 2019 Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call 911, the Louisville Metro Police Department at 502-574-7111, or the NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678. — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "Authorities searching for missing girl, Kensie Potts, last seen in Louisville," 13 June 2019 Anyone with knowledge of Young's or Williams' whereabouts can contact police Detective Tonya McDaniel at 214-671-4236 or tonya.mcdaniel@dallascityhall.com. — Lavendrick Smith, Dallas News, "Teenage suspect in Deep Ellum slaying turns himself in after his mom calls police," 29 June 2019 The driver was incoherent and unaware of his whereabouts. — cleveland.com, "Woman arrested for OVI after her car strikes mailbox and is driven off road: Solon police blotter," 20 June 2019 Saudi officials said at first that Mr. Khashoggi had left the consulate alive and denied any knowledge of his whereabouts. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times, "Saudis Called Khashoggi ‘Sacrificial Animal’ as They Waited to Kill Him," 19 June 2019

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.

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More Definitions for whereabouts

whereabouts

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of whereabouts

(Entry 1 of 2)

: near what place

whereabouts

noun

English Language Learners Definition of whereabouts (Entry 2 of 2)

: the location of a person or thing

See the full definition for whereabouts in the English Language Learners Dictionary

whereabouts

adverb

where·abouts | \ ˈhwer-ə-ˌbau̇ts

, ˈwer-\

Kids Definition of whereabouts

(Entry 1 of 2)

: near what place Whereabouts did you lose it?

whereabouts

noun plural

Kids Definition of whereabouts (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

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Comments on whereabouts

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