somebody
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /ˈsʌm.bə.di/
KK: /ˈsʌmbəˌdi/
noun
Definition
A person who is important or has a significant role in a situation.
Example
She is somebody who always helps others in need.
Conversation
I heard that somebody important is coming to the party tonight.
Really? I wonder who it could be.
Yeah, I hope it's somebody interesting who can share cool stories.
Me too! It would be great to meet someone like that.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
individual
person
figure
Antonyms
nobody
nonentity
unknown
pronoun
Definition
An unspecified or unknown person; someone.
Example
I saw somebody walking their dog in the park.
Conversation
I think I saw somebody I know at the café yesterday.
Really? Who was it?
I couldn't tell for sure, but they looked familiar.
Root Explanation
Somebody → The word is formed from "some" (from Old English "sum", meaning a certain amount or unspecified) and "body" (from Old English "bodig", meaning the physical structure of a person or animal). The term "somebody" refers to an unspecified person or individual.
Memory Tip
Think of 'some' as referring to an unspecified amount and 'body' as the physical form of a person. This helps you remember that 'somebody' means an unspecified person.
Visually Confused Words
homebody
shoeboy