Language Research

something · pronoun

/ˈsʌm.θɪŋ/Full view

something

A1 used to refer to a thing when you do not know what it is or when it is not important what it is

Dictionary examples:

There's something in my shoe.

Can I read you something else?

You should take something for that cold.

We thought there must be something wrong because we hadn't heard from you.

Something's happened to upset him but we don't know what it is.

Is there something you'd like to say?

Don't just stand there, do something.

Learner example:

If I need something, I go shop[p]ing. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; French)

or something (like that)

A2 used to show that what you have just said is only an example or you are not certain about it

Dictionary example:

Why don't you go to a movie or something?

Learner example:

We sho[u]ld [go to] a café after, and then we can go [to] dinner or something like that. (Key English Test; A2; Portuguese)

be/have something to do with sth/sb

C1 to be related to something or a cause of something but not in a way which you know about or understand

Dictionary example:

It might have something to do with the way it's made.

Learner example:

Well, it has something to do with politics, but as you know, I don't understand a word of it because I don't care about it. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Catalan)

be something

C2 to be a thing which is important, special, or useful

Dictionary examples:

The President visiting our hotel - that would really be something.

It's not much but it's something.

Learner example:

My God I thought this woman sure was something. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)

something like

C2 similar to or approximately

Dictionary examples:

He paid something like $18,000 for his car.

The town’s Algonquian name means something like "water over a white bottom."

Learner example:

To their minds it is still something like an obligation and this may be attributed to the pressure their parents and teachers used to put on them. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

something of a sth

C2 used to describe a person or thing in a way which is partly true but not completely or exactly

Dictionary examples:

It came as something of a surprise.

He has a reputation as something of a troublemaker.

Learner example:

Finally, while he had an intense social life, I used to be something of a hermit. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)