whereabouts — the place where someone or something is
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the place where someone or something is
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwerəbaʊts/
Example Sentences
- The police are investigating the whereabouts of the missing pizza delivery guy.
- Can you tell me whereabouts you left your keys?
- My cat's whereabouts remain a mystery every time I need to take him to the vet.
whereabouts
NOUN[/ˈwerəbaʊts/]
the place where someone or something is
Detectives study a map trying to pinpoint the suspect's whereabouts last Tuesday night.
The scouts lost track of their whereabouts among the routes!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Whereabouts is a Middle English compound formed from where and about, attested from the 14th century. The combination of where (interrogative adverb for location) and about (meaning 'around' or 'in the vicinity of') produced a term indicating approximate rather than exact location.
Breakdown
where (interrogative adverb, 'at what place') + about (preposition, 'around, in the vicinity of') + -s (adverbial suffix forming a noun phrase). The final -s marks it as a plural or emphatic form commonly used in locational expressions.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The police are investigating the whereabouts of the missing pizza delivery guy.”
“Can you tell me whereabouts you left your keys?”
“My cat's whereabouts remain a mystery every time I need to take him to the vet.”
“The witness refused to disclose the suspect's whereabouts.”
📚Related Words
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