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View synonyms for

about

[uh-bout]

preposition

  1. of; concerning; in regard to.

    instructions about the work;

    a book about the Civil War.

  2. connected or associated with.

    There was an air of mystery about him.

  3. near; close to.

    a man about my height;

    about six o'clock.

  4. in or somewhere near.

    He is about the house.

  5. on every side of; around.

    the railing about the excavation.

  6. on or near (one's person).

    They lost all they had about them.

  7. so as to be of use to.

    Keep your wits about you.

  8. on the verge or point of (usually followed by an infinitive).

    about to leave.

  9. here or there in, on, or over.

    to wander about the old castle;

    to look about the auditorium at the audience.

  10. concerned with; engaged in doing.

    Tell me what it's about.

    Bring me the other book while you're about it.



adverb

  1. near in time, number, degree, etc.; approximately.

    It's about five miles from here.

  2. nearly; almost.

    Dinner is about ready.

  3. nearby; not far off.

    He is somewhere about.

  4. on every side; in every direction; around.

    Look about and see if you can find it.

  5. halfway around; in the opposite direction.

    to turn a car about.

  6. from one place to another; in this place or that.

    to move furniture about;

    important papers strewn about.

  7. in rotation or succession; alternately.

    Turn about is fair play.

  8. in circumference.

    a wheel two inches about.

  9. Nautical.

    1. onto a new tack.

    2. onto a new course.

adjective

  1. moving around; astir.

    He was up and about while the rest of us still slept.

  2. in existence; current; prevalent.

    Chicken pox is about.

about

/ əˈʊ /

preposition

  1. relating to; concerning; on the subject of

  2. near or close to (in space or time)

  3. carried on

    I haven't any money about me

  4. on every side of; all the way around

  5. active in or engaged in

    she is about her business

    1. on the point of; intending to

      she was about to jump

    2. (with a negative) determined not to

      nobody is about to miss it

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. approximately; near in number, time, degree, etc

    about 50 years old

  2. nearby

  3. here and there; from place to place; in no particular direction

    walk about to keep warm

  4. all around; on every side

  5. in or to the opposite direction

    he turned about and came back

  6. in rotation or revolution

    turn and turn about

  7. used in informal phrases to indicate understatement

    I've had just about enough of your insults

    it's about time you stopped

  8. archaicin circumference; around

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. (predicative) active; astir after sleep

    up and about

  2. (predicative) in existence, current, or in circulation

    there aren't many about nowadays

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of about1

First recorded before 900; Middle English aboute(n), Old English abūٲ, DzԲūٲ “on the outside of,” equivalent to a- 1 ( def. ) + but 1 ( def. ); cognate with Gothic utana, Old Norse, Old Saxon ūٲ, Old Frisian ūٲ, Old High German ū() ※ܳٲ”; out ( def. )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of about1

Old English abūٲ, DzԲūٲ on the outside of, around, from on + ūٲ outside
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Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idioms beginning with about, also see at about; beat about the bush; bring about; cast about; come about; do an about-face; get about; go about (one's business); how about (that); just about; knock about; lay about; man about town; nose about (around); no two ways about it; order someone about; out and about; see about; send someone about someone's business; set about; that's about the size of it; up and about; what about someone (something).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But everyone who cares enough to have an opinion about these deeply personal chronicles seems, regardless, to be reading them.

From

He reiterated that the UK had "long-standing concerns" about Iran's nuclear programme and recognised Israel's right to self-defence.

From

"We've obviously got a team here that got us to the final so it's about when do we feel it's the right time to change," Cummins, 32, said.

From

Crowds of people waited in silence for about 20 minutes ahead of the cortege's arrival to honour the firefighter, who lived in the town.

From

They have since notified police about the pair, who have not been identified.

From

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