about Definition
about (ə bo̵ut′)
adverb
- on every side; all around look about
- here and there; in all directions travel about
- in circumference; around the outside ten miles about
- near standing somewhere about
- in the opposite direction; to a reversed position turn it about
- in succession or rotation play fair—turn and turn about
- nearly; approximately about four years old
- Informal all but; almost about ready
Etymology: ME aboute(n) < OE onbūtan, around < on, on + be, by + ūtan, outside < ūt, out: all senses develop from the sense of “around”
adjective
- astir; on the move he is up and about again
- in the vicinity; prevalent typhoid is about
- ready; likely immediately: followed by an infinitive I was about to speak
- willing or inclined: used with not and an infinitive I'm not about to exercise regularly
- around; on all sides of
- here and there in; everywhere in rambling about the town
- near to in time or space born about 1960, keeping my keys about me
- concerned with; attending to go about your business
- on the subject of; concerning a book about ships
- in connection with; pertaining to the most interesting thing about her
about Idioms
be what something is all about
Informal to be the true purpose of or reason for something
about Synonyms
about
modif. & prep.
Approximately
roughly, nearly, around; see approximately.Concerning
regarding, respecting, concerning, touching, of, on, in relation to, relative to, relating to, as regards, with regard to, with respect to, in the matter of, in reference to, with reference to, referring to, as concerns, so far as (something) is concerned, in connection with, apropos of, connected with, concerned with, dealing with, thereunto, in re (Latin), thereby, hereof, wherein, with a view toward, as to, as for, anent. Around
surrounding, round about, on all sides; see around 1.Active
Browse dictionary entries near about
- ‹ abounding
- ‹ abound
- ‹ aboulia
- ‹ abortus
- ‹ abortive
- ‹ abortionist
- ‹ abortion
- ‹ abortifacient
- ‹ aborticide
- ‹ abort
- about-face ›
- about to ›
- above ›
- Above 890 Decision ›
- aboveboard ›
- aboveground ›
- Abp ›
- abr ›
- abracadabra ›
- abradant ›

