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English Dictionary

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 about about /əˈbaʊt/

adjective

  1. On the move  ( about , astir )
    on the move
     Up and about
    up and about
     The whole town was astir over the incident
    the whole town was astir over the incident

adverb

  1. () (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct  ( around , just about , some , about , approximately , close to , more or less , or so , roughly )
    (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
     Lasted approximately an hour
    lasted approximately an hour
     In just about a minute
    in just about a minute
     He's about 30 years old
    he's about 30 years old
     I've had about all I can stand
    I've had about all I can stand
     We meet about once a month
    we meet about once a month
     Some forty people came
    some forty people came
     Weighs around a hundred pounds
    weighs around a hundred pounds
     Roughly $3,000
    roughly $3,000
     Holds 3 gallons, more or less
    holds 3 gallons, more or less
     20 or so people were at the party
    20 or so people were at the party
  2. () All around or on all sides  ( around , about )
    all around or on all sides
     Dirty clothes lying around (or about)
    dirty clothes lying around (or about)
     Let's look about for help
    let's look about for help
     There were trees growing all around
    There were trees growing all around
     She looked around her
    she looked around her
  3. () In the area or vicinity  ( about , around )
    in the area or vicinity
     A few spectators standing about
    a few spectators standing about
     Hanging around
    hanging around
     Waited around for the next flight
    waited around for the next flight
  4. () In or to a reversed position or direction  ( around , about )
    in or to a reversed position or direction
     About face
    about face
     Suddenly she turned around
    suddenly she turned around
  5. () Used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction  ( about , around )
    used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction
     Wandering about with no place to go
    wandering about with no place to go
     People were rushing about
    people were rushing about
     News gets around (or about)
    news gets around (or about)
     Traveled around in Asia
    traveled around in Asia
     He needs advice from someone who's been around
    he needs advice from someone who's been around
     She sleeps around
    she sleeps around
  6. () In rotation or succession  ( about )
    in rotation or succession
     Turn about is fair play
    turn about is fair play
  7. () (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but  ( nigh , all but , about , almost , most , near , nearly , virtually , well-nigh )
    (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
     The job is (just) about done
    the job is (just) about done
     The baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded
    the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded
     We're almost finished
    we're almost finished
     The car all but ran her down
    the car all but ran her down
     He nearly fainted
    he nearly fainted
     Talked for nigh onto 2 hours
    talked for nigh onto 2 hours
     The recording is well-nigh perfect
    the recording is well-nigh perfect
     Virtually all the parties signed the contract
    virtually all the parties signed the contract
     I was near exhausted by the run
    I was near exhausted by the run
     Most everyone agrees
    most everyone agrees

preposition

  1. () Concerning or relating to a particular topic.  ( on , about )
    Concerning or relating to a particular topic.
  2. () Concerning or related to a particular subject or matter.  ( apropos , re , as for , about , as regards , as to , in connection with , respecting , with regard to , concerning , regarding )
    Concerning or related to a particular subject or matter.