some Meaning, Definition & Usage
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adjective quantifier; used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
- have some milk
- some roses were still blooming
- having some friends over
- some apples
- some paper
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adjective satellite relatively much but unspecified in amount or extent
- we talked for some time
- he was still some distance away
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adjective satellite relatively many but unspecified in number
- they were here for some weeks
- we did not meet again for some years
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adjective satellite remarkable
- that was some party
- she is some skier
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adverb (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
about; around; roughly; approximately; just about; or so; more or less; close to.
- lasted approximately an hour
- in just about a minute
- he's about 30 years old
- I've had about all I can stand
- we meet about once a month
- some forty people came
- weighs around a hundred pounds
- roughly $3,000
- holds 3 gallons, more or less
- 20 or so people were at the party
WordNet
Some adjective
Etymology
OE.Definitions
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Consisting of a greater or less portion or sum; composed of a quantity or number which is not stated; -- used to express an indefinite quantity or number; as, . Used also pronominally;some wine;some water;some personsas, I have .some Some theoretical writers allege that there was a time when there was no such thing as society. Blackstone.
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A certain; one; -- indicating a person, thing, event, etc., as not known individually, or designated more specifically; "Some brighter clime." Mrs. Barbauld.as, .some man, that is, some one manSome man praiseth his neighbor by a wicked intent. Chaucer.
Most gentlemen of property, at some period or other of their lives, are ambitious of representing their county in Parliament. Blackstone.
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Not much; a little; moderate; as, the censure was to .some extent just -
About; near; more or less; -- used commonly with numerals, but formerly also with a singular substantive of time or distance; as, a village of .some eighty houses;some two or three persons;some hour henceapproximately. Shak.The number slain on the rebel's part were some two thousand. Bacon.
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Considerable in number or quality. "Bore us some leagues to sea." Shak.On its outer point, some miles away. The lighthouse lifts its massive masonry. Longfellow.
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Certain; those of one part or portion; -- in distinct from other or others; as, .some men believe one thing, andothers anotherSome [seeds] fell among thorns; . . . but other fell into good ground. Matt. xiii. 7, 8.
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A part; a portion; -- used pronominally, and followed sometimes by of; as, .some of our provisionsYour edicts some reclaim from sins, But most your life and blest example wins. Dryden.
✍ The illiterate in the United States and Scotland often use some as an adverb, instead of somewhat, or an equivalent expression; as, I am some tired; he is some better; it rains some, etc. Some to the shores do fly, Some to the woods, or whither fear advised. Daniel.
✍ Formerly used also of single persons or things: this one . . . that one; one . . . another. Some in his bed, some in the deep sea. Chaucer.