ENGLISH
REFERENCE

whereabouts

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhwɛɹəˌbaʊts// UK //wˈeəɹɐbˌaʊts// where·abouts

n. the place where someone or something is. You use this word when you do not know the exact location.

n. the precise location of a person or thing, especially when it is unknown or being sought. Typically used in the plural form.


SIMPLE

No one knows the whereabouts of the missing cat.

CONTEXTUAL

Police are trying to find the whereabouts of the suspect.

COMPLEX

The detective spent weeks tracing the whereabouts of the stolen jewels across three different countries.

Origin

From Middle English wheraboutes, equivalent to whereabout + -s (adverbial suffix).

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