some
/sʌm
/ /s(ə)m /determiner
1An unspecified amount or number of: I made some money running errands he played some records for me...
- Of course I'd like a record company to put some money behind me and make a career out of music.
- So far, eight people have decided that what they read was worth giving me some money.
- So why not waste some more money and build another airport to match with the new stadium.
2Used to refer to someone or something that is unknown or unspecified: she married some newspaper magnate twice her age there must be some mistake he’s in some kind of trouble...
- I wish the mag well but they must get some kind of story archive onto the web sharpish.
- If only they'd attached some kind of story to it, it would have been far, far better.
- Do web pages or rotting newspapers leave some kind of afterglow in the light of the universe?
3(Used with a number) approximately: some thirty different languages are spoken...
- The only source of water was a spring below a steep bank some thirty yards from the house.
- Still gripping the foot he spun around and released, launching Hark some thirty feet.
- Russell Chamberlin is the author of some thirty books on European travel and history.
4(Pronounced stressing ‘some’) a considerable amount or number of: he went to some trouble I’ve known you for some years now...
- The victim's relatives had been under some stress whilst the rescue was underway.
- Lying by the pool in Tenerife gave me time to give this question some serious consideration.
- Police believe he could have been lying in wait for his victim for some considerable time.
5(Pronounced stressing ‘some’) at least a small amount or number of: he liked some music but generally wasn’t musical...
- You hope you can make at least some contribution so that other families do not end up in the position that we are in.
- In some eyes at least, it amounted to a single civilizational complex or world system.
- I want to be in charge or at least have some degree of say in how it is being run.
6(Pronounced stressing ‘some’) expressing admiration of something notable: that was some goal...
- Anyone who could get away with intoning it to an audience must be some kind of storytelling genius.
- She's warm, caring, full of life, and she puts up with me, which makes her some kind of saint.
6.1Used ironically to express disapproval or disbelief: Mr Power gave his stock reply. Some help! not that Jennifer would ever be on the dole. Some chance of that...
- Some chance of that happening!
pronoun
1An unspecified number or amount of people or things: here are some of our suggestions if you want whisky I’ll give you some...
- Some of these changes have had a positive effect on rural Carlow while some have not.
- Some of the groups are very radical indeed - and some want to provoke the countries into war.
- There was a time when some of the shopkeepers made a living, and some bought the premises they traded in.
2(Pronounced stressing ‘some’) at least a small amount or number of people or things: surely some have noticed...
- At least some in the industry still recognise its importance as the railway capital of the North.
- However, we also know that some are in or near centres of population.
- It appeared that at least some had been rendered unconscious by the gas before being shot.
adverb North American informal
To some extent; quite a lot: he needs feeding up some...
- The second time the rules change some.
Phrases
and then some
some few
some little
Origin
Old English sum, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek hamōs 'somehow' and Sanskrit sama 'any, every'.