Word
somebody
Phoneticssome·body
US/ˈsəmˌbɑdi/
UK/sˈʌmbɒdi/
Definitions
01an unknown person
A1 · Beginner
pron. a person, but you do not know or say exactly who they are.
pron. an unspecified or unknown person. Functions as a singular pronoun and typically takes a singular verb.
日本語:誰か※
“Somebody left the front door open, and now the house is freezing.”
“Somebody must have entered the building after the security guard finished his rounds, as the alarm was triggered at midnight.”
Pitfall
Somebody have left their umbrella.
Somebody has left their umbrella.
Even though 'somebody' refers to people in general, it is grammatically singular and requires a singular verb like 'has' or 'is'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02an important person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a person who is famous, successful, or important.
n. a person of importance, authority, or celebrity status. Often used in contrast with 'nobody'.
“He worked hard because he really wanted to be somebody one day.”
“After years of playing minor roles in local theatre, she finally became a somebody in Hollywood following her breakout performance.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “somebody” in context.
Etymology
From Middle English sum body, equivalent to some + body.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
DETERMINER
PRONOUN
Related words
Idioms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/somebody
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0