# some

/ˈsəm/ (US) · /sˈʌm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/some
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. one particular but unknown

determiner · CEFR B1

used to talk about a person or thing when you do not know which one it is.

For teachers: refers to a specific but unidentified or unspecified person, place, or thing in the singular.

- Some man called for you earlier but he didn't leave his name.
- The project failed because of some technical error that the engineers were unable to replicate in the lab.

Usage: Used with a singular countable noun.

### 3. a part of a group

pronoun · CEFR A1

a certain number of people or things from a larger group.

For teachers: functions as a pronoun representing an unspecified number or amount of a previously mentioned or implied set.

- Some of the students finished the test early and left the room.
- While most participants preferred the original design, some argued that the updated interface was more intuitive for new users.

Usage: Often followed by 'of' before a specific group.

### 4. approximately

adverb · CEFR B2

about or roughly a certain number.

For teachers: used before a numeral to indicate an approximate value.

- Some eighty people attended the wedding ceremony last night.
- The company expects to hire some five hundred new employees over the next fiscal year to meet rising demand.

Usage: Always precedes a number or measurement.

Teaching tip: This usage is more common in written reports or news than in casual conversation.

### 5. impressive or remarkable

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

used to say that something is very good or very impressive.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to indicate that the following noun is remarkable or noteworthy.

- That was some party last night; I've never seen so many people.
- It was some achievement for the young athlete to break the world record in her very first international competition.

Usage: Always used before a singular noun.

Teaching tip: This is often used with a tone of surprise or genuine admiration.

### 6. a little or somewhat

adverb · CEFR C1 · American English · Dialect · Informal

to a small degree or for a short time.

For teachers: functions as a degree adverb meaning 'to some extent'.

- The weather has improved some since this morning.
- After the long hike, his legs were aching some, so he decided to rest by the stream.

Usage: Usually follows a verb.

Teaching tip: This is very informal and primarily found in North American dialects; 'somewhat' is better for formal writing.

## Examples

- I need to buy some milk at the store.
- We have some extra chairs in the back room if more guests arrive for the presentation.
- While the report highlights several systemic failures, it also acknowledges that some progress has been made in reducing carbon emissions over the last fiscal year.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.