1
: a thing that is not known, named, or specified
Something came in the mail for you.
I thought I heard something outside.
He said something that really bothered me.
I started to say something but she interrupted me.
I have something to tell you.
There's something wrong with my car.
Something is going on at the school, but I don't know what.
"The job doesn't pay very well and the hours are long." "I think you should look for something better."
I don't know what she studies, but it has something to do with computers. [=it relates to computers]
Would you like something [=anything] to drink?
Is there something [=anything] wrong?
Is there something [=anything] good on TV tonight?
I just got my tax refund. It's not much, but it's something. [=it's better than nothing]
"They won't give us an extra week to finish, but they'll give us a couple of days." "Well, that's something anyway."
Do you want pizza for dinner or something else? [=or a different thing for dinner]
I got you a little something [=a small thing] for your birthday.
2
: a person or thing that is important or worth noticing
She thinks she's really something ever since her promotion.
That waterfall is really something, isn't it?
He decided to go back to college and make something of himself. [=become successful]
3
: an amount that is more than a specified number
—used in combination
His friends are all twentysomething singles. [=his friends are single people between the ages of 20 and 29]
The bill came to fifty-something dollars.
4
—used to make a statement or description less forceful or definite
He is something of an expert [=he is an expert to some degree] with car repair.
We have something of a problem here.
The movie was something of [=somewhat of] a disappointment. [=was somewhat disappointing]
1
: in a very small amount or degree : somewhat or slightly
The total repairs cost something over $300.
He does look something like his father. [=he resembles his father somewhat]
The movie was something like what I expected.
2
informal
—used before an adjective that is being used like an adverb to add emphasis
He was snoring something awful/terrible [=was snoring very loudly] last night.
Cite this Entry
“Something.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/something. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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