# something

/ˈsəmθɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈʌmθɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Pronoun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/something
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a thing that you do not name specifically. You use it when you do not know exactly what the thing is or when the name is not important.

For teachers: an unspecified or unknown thing, amount, or event. Functions as an indefinite pronoun and typically takes a singular verb.

## Examples

- I have something in my eye.
- She felt something cold touch her shoulder while she was walking through the dark hallway.
- The researchers noticed something unusual in the data, which prompted them to restart the entire experiment from the beginning to ensure accuracy.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I saw a something strange." but "I saw something strange." — As a pronoun, it does not take an article like 'a' or 'the'.

## Usage notes

- Always treated as singular; any following adjectives must be placed after the word (e.g., 'something blue' rather than 'blue something').

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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.