somebody
gb/sˈʌmbˌɑdi/ us/sˈʌmbˌɑdi/
A1
English
~ 1400
Senses
0 senses
pronoun
A1
entity
1
An unspecified person
Used to talk about a person, but we do not know or say who.
Usage pattern:
[somebody] + [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'somebody' with 'anybody'. 'Somebody' is used in positive sentences, while 'anybody' is often used in questions and negatives.
Synonyms
someone (Completely interchangeable in most contexts; 'someone' is slightly more common in writing.)
Antonyms
nobody (Means no person at all, the opposite of an unspecified person existing.)
Collocations
somebody else
|somebody new
|somebody important
|somebody special
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Somebody left their bag on the train.
- I need somebody to help me move this table.
- There’s somebody waiting for you outside.
- Somebody knocked on the door, but I didn’t answer.
Learner examples
- Somebody is at the door.
- I saw somebody in the park.
- Somebody took my pen.
- Somebody is calling you.
Noun
informal
B1
entity
2
An important or famous person
A person who is important or well-known.
Usage pattern:
be [a/an] somebody
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the noun use with the pronoun use; here it means an important person, not just any person.
Synonyms
VIP (More formal and used for very important people in official contexts.)
Antonyms
nobody (Refers to a person of no importance or influence.)
Collocations
become somebody
|feel like somebody
|make somebody of oneself
Themes
status
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After winning the award, she finally felt like a somebody.
- He always dreamed of becoming somebody in the music industry.
- In this small town, being a doctor makes you a real somebody.
Learner examples
- He wants to be a somebody.
- She became a somebody after the movie.
- He is a somebody in politics.
Grammar
Dictionary form
somebody
IPA
GB/sˈʌmbˌɑdi/
US/sˈʌmbˌɑdi/
Syllables & stress
some - body (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (some)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: somebody
- Plural: somebodies
Word family
Expressions
be somebody
1/bˈi sˈʌmbˌɑdi/
idiom
informal
Be important or successful
To be an important or well-known person.
Examples
- He worked hard because he wanted to be somebody.
- She became somebody after her book became a bestseller.
make somebody of oneself
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmbˌɑdi əv wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
idiom
informal
Achieve success in life
To become successful or important through your own efforts.
Examples
- She came from a poor family but really made somebody of herself.
- He moved to the city to make somebody of himself.
somebody else
1/sˈʌmbˌɑdi ˈɛls/
fixed phrase
A different person
Another person, not the one already talked about.
Examples
- I thought you were talking to me, but you meant somebody else.
- Somebody else will have to take that job if you can’t do it.