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some

some [ stressed sum, unstressed səm ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word used to indicate an unspecified or unknown quantity of people or things

(adj) There is always some risk in any project.

(pron) There was plenty of food left over, so I took some.

Definition:

1. adjective a little: used to indicate an unspecified number, quantity, or proportion of a total, generally a fairly small to average or reasonable one

I agree with you to some extent.

Some of you, I know, will disagree with me.

2. adjective quite a few: used with a slight emphasis to indicate an unspecified but fairly large number or quantity

We have been debating this problem for some months now.

3. adjective particular but unspecified: used to indicate an unspecified single person or thing, often in a dismissive way ( informal )

He was reading some medical book.

4. adjective used for emphasis: used to emphasize that somebody or something is impressive or remarkable in some way ( informal )

That was some performance you put on for us!

5. adverb approximately: used to indicate that a number is approximate

for some 30 years

6. adverb to small extent: to a small extent or degree ( informal )

I do write some, but not as much as I'd like.

7. adverb a great deal: a great deal, at a considerable rate, or vigorously ( informal )

I'm going to have to study some to get through this exam.

[ Old English sum "one, somebody" < Indo-European, "together with"]

and then some used to emphasize that more, often considerably more, has been done than was suggested in a previous statement (informal)

Spelling Note


	some or sum? Do not confuse the spelling of some and sum, which sound similar. Some refers to an unspecified amount, number, thing, or person, as in buy some milk, some ten days ago, undergoing some kind of therapy, some of them refused to leave. Sum refers to a total amount, as in a sum of money, the sum total of his knowledge, and is also used as a verb, especially in sum up meaning "summarize" (summed up the story in a couple of sentences).