Read full poem →Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon I heard again a tapping, somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;
Dictionary Entry
somewhat
Part of SpeechnounPronunciation/ˈsʌmwɒt/Word FrequencyCommon (5.66)Curriculum FrequencyLess common (1)Used In Literature ↓More or less; a certain quantity or degree; a part, more or less; something.
In a Sentence
“Students can use somewhat to explain More or less; a certain quantity or degree; a part, more or less; something..”
Published Usage Examples
“He is somewhat, as the lady on the other side of the table says, _somewhat_ in the 'sear leaf,' by which name indeed she is pleased to call him; but there is enough of spring in her, to suffice for all deficiencies in him.”
“The government's austerity drive has shown signs of paying off, which has shielded Spain somewhat from the renewed market turmoil that has sent risk premiums for Portugal and Ireland soaring.”
This entry also appears in ReadingWillow Year 12 word lists, so students can move between the dictionary and year-level study sets.
Origin
Middle English somwhat, from som ‘some’ + what.
Common Phrases
different somewhatless somewhatsimilar somewhathigher somewhat. somewhatlater somewhat
Antonyms
Related Words
Poetry examples for “somewhat”
Excerpts from the ReadingWillow English Library collection.
