someone
- 01 A1 Beginner
pron.used to refer to a person when you do not know their name or identity.
pron.an indefinite pronoun referring to a person of unspecified or unknown identity.
Simple“Someone left an umbrella in the hallway, but I don't know who it belongs to.”
In context“If someone calls while I am in the meeting, please take a detailed message and ask for their contact information.”
PitfallSomeone are at the door. Someone is at the door.Even though 'someone' might refer to many people in a general sense, it is grammatically singular and always takes a singular verb.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who is famous, successful, or important.
n.a person of significance, social standing, or professional importance.
Simple“After her book became a bestseller, she felt like she was finally someone.”
In context“In a town this small, anyone with a steady job and a clean car is considered to be someone.”
UsageOften used with the verb 'to be' to indicate a change in status.
Usage someone else · someone like · someone who's
From Middle English sum on, sum one, sum oon, equivalent to some + one.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.