# somewhere

/ˈsəmˌwɛɹ/ (US) · /sˈʌmweə/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. at an unknown place

adverb · CEFR A1

in or at a place that you do not know or have not named.

For teachers: at or in an unspecified or unknown location. Often used when the exact coordinates are irrelevant to the speaker's intent.

- I know I left my glasses somewhere in the kitchen, but I can't find them.
- The missing documents are likely filed somewhere in the archives, though locating them without a reference number will be difficult.

Usage: Functions as an adverb of place; do not precede with a preposition like 'in' or 'at'.

### 2. to an unknown place

adverb · CEFR A1

to a place that is not specified.

For teachers: to an unspecified or unknown destination. Functions as a directional adverb.

- We should go somewhere warm for our summer holiday this year.
- After the meeting, the delegates moved somewhere more private to discuss the sensitive details of the merger.

Usage: Used with verbs of motion like 'go', 'travel', or 'move'.

### 3. approximately

adverb · CEFR B1

used to show that a number, time, or amount is not exact.

For teachers: used to indicate an approximate value, time, or quantity, typically followed by 'between' or 'around'.

- The repairs will cost somewhere between two hundred and three hundred dollars.
- The historical evidence suggests the castle was built somewhere around the late fourteenth century, though the exact year remains a mystery.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'somewhere between' to indicate a range.

### 4. an unknown location

noun · CEFR B2

a place that exists but is not named or known.

For teachers: an unspecified or unknown location. In this sense, it functions as a noun and can be preceded by a preposition.

- The package must have come from somewhere in Europe.
- The melody seemed to drift from somewhere deep within the forest, haunting the hikers as they set up camp.

Usage: Unlike the adverbial use, the noun form can follow a preposition like 'from' or 'to'.

## Examples

- I left my keys somewhere in the kitchen.
- We should go somewhere quiet where we can talk without being interrupted by the crowd.
- The missing documents must be located somewhere within the archives, though the lack of a proper filing system makes the search nearly impossible.

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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.