somewhere
/ˈsʌmweə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsʌmwer/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsəm-ˌ(h)wer -(ˌ)(h)wər/ (ame, mw)
somewhere — adverb
1. used to say that something is in or goes to a place whose exact position you can
used to say that something is in or goes to a place whose exact position you cannot name or do not need to state
Selim left his keys somewhere in the living room but cannot find them.
somewhere + prepositional phrase (in the living room)
Saira put the documents somewhere safe before the meeting began.
somewhere + adjective (safe)
The children are hiding somewhere in the garden behind the bushes.
Lakan remembers the hotel is somewhere near the old market square.
Yumi thinks the nearest ATM is somewhere around the main station.
- nowhere
emphasizes absence rather than unknown presence
文法句型
somewhere + prepositional phrase
somewhere + adjective
用法筆記
In questions and negative sentences, 'anywhere' is more natural than 'somewhere': 'Did you leave your keys anywhere?' not '…somewhere?'
常見錯誤
2. used before a number, amount, or time to show that the figure is not exact but i
used before a number, amount, or time to show that the figure is not exact but is close to that value
The repair will cost somewhere around two hundred dollars.
somewhere around + figure
Pedro arrived somewhere between nine and half past nine this morning.
somewhere between + range
Christopher said the temperature would be somewhere in the mid-twenties today.
The flight from Taipei to Tokyo takes somewhere around three hours.
- approximately
slightly more formal; 'approximately two hundred participants'
- roughly
similar informality; 'roughly the same age'
- about
the most common alternative; 'about twenty minutes'
- around
very common in speech; 'around fifty people'
文法句型
somewhere around + figure
somewhere between + range
用法筆記
Must be followed by a preposition (around, between, in the region of) before the number — 'somewhere $50' is incorrect.
常見錯誤
3. to reach a state of progress or achievement, especially after a period of diffic
to reach a state of progress or achievement, especially after a period of difficulty or uncertainty
After three failed attempts, the team is finally getting somewhere with the design.
get somewhere with + noun phrase
Ezra felt he was finally getting somewhere in his career after the promotion.
We tried four different methods before we started getting somewhere.
Mei smiled and said, 'Now we are getting somewhere!' as the experiment finally worked.
- make progress
more formal and explicit; 'we are making progress on the report'
- get ahead
focuses on career or personal advancement
- move forward
emphasizes forward momentum
- nowhere
used in 'getting nowhere' to indicate a lack of progress
文法句型
get somewhere with + noun phrase
be getting somewhere
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the phrases 'get somewhere' or 'be getting somewhere'. It is not used in negative form (use 'not getting anywhere' or 'going nowhere' instead).
常見錯誤
somewhere — noun
1. a place that is not named, not known, or not yet decided
a place that is not named, not known, or not yet decided
Nala is looking for somewhere to hold her birthday party this weekend.
somewhere + to-infinitive
The students need somewhere quiet to study before the final exams.
somewhere + adjective + to-infinitive
Ilan and Constanza found somewhere lovely for their wedding ceremony.
After the earthquake, hundreds of families needed somewhere to stay.
- a place
more general and can take an article; 'a place to sit'
- a spot
informal and suggests a specific small area; 'a quiet spot to read'
- a location
more formal; 'a suitable location for the event'
- nowhere
refers to no place at all; 'we have nowhere to go'
文法句型
somewhere + to-infinitive
find/look for/need somewhere
用法筆記
As a noun, 'somewhere' is almost always used in the singular and is commonly followed by a to-infinitive or an adjective. It does not take an article (*'a somewhere').