ABOUT

approximately, about, close to, just about, some, roughly, more or less, around, or so

(adverb) (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; “lasted approximately an hour”; “in just about a minute”; “he’s about 30 years old”; “I’ve had about all I can stand”; “we meet about once a month”; “some forty people came”; “weighs around a hundred pounds”; “roughly $3,000”; “holds 3 gallons, more or less”; “20 or so people were at the party”

about, around

(adverb) in the area or vicinity; “a few spectators standing about”; “hanging around”; “waited around for the next flight”

about, around

(adverb) all around or on all sides; “dirty clothes lying around (or about)”; “let’s look about for help”; “There were trees growing all around”; “she looked around her”

about, around

(adverb) in or to a reversed position or direction; “about face”; “suddenly she turned around”

about, around

(adverb) used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction; “wandering about with no place to go”; “people were rushing about”; “news gets around (or about)”; “traveled around in Asia”; “he needs advice from someone who’s been around”; “she sleeps around”

about, almost, most, nearly, near, nigh, virtually, well-nigh

(adverb) (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but; “the job is (just) about done”; “the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded”; “we’re almost finished”; “the car all but ran her down”; “he nearly fainted”; “talked for nigh onto 2 hours”; “the recording is well-nigh perfect”; “virtually all the parties signed the contract”; “I was near exhausted by the run”; “most everyone agrees”

about

(adverb) in rotation or succession; “turn about is fair play”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Preposition

about

In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of. [First attested prior to 1150.]

Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]

Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.

(with 'to' and verb infinitive) See about to.

(with present participle, obsolete or dialect) On the point or verge of.

Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]

Synonyms: apropos, as for, Thesaurus:about

Concerned with; engaged in; intent on. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]

Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

On one's person; nearby the person. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]

(figurative) In or near, as in mental faculties or (literally) in the possession of; under the control of; at one's command; in one's makeup. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

Usage notes

• (Indicates that something will happen very soon): In modern English, always followed by an infinitive that begins with to ("I am about to bathe"); see about to. In the past, it was possible to instead follow the about with the present participle ("I am about swimming"), but this format is no longer used or widely understood.

• (concerning): Used as a function word to indicate what is dealt with as the object of thought, feeling, or action.

Adverb

about (not comparable)

On all sides; around. [First attested before 1150.]

Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down. [First attested before 1150.]

From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.

Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.

Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost. [First attested before 1150.]

Near; in the vicinity. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]

To a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]

(nautical) To the opposite tack. [First attested in the late 15^th century.]

(obsolete or rare) In succession; one after another; in the course of events. [First attested before 1150.]

(archaic) In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; in circumference. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

Synonyms

• (many senses): around

Adjective

about (not comparable)

Moving around; astir.

In existence; being in evidence; apparent.

Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood.

Synonyms

• (moving around): around, active, mobile, astir

• (in existence): around

Anagrams

• Touba, Tuoba, U-boat

Source: Wiktionary

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A*bout", prep. Etym: [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. abutan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See But, Out.]

1. Around; all round; on every side of. "Look about you." Shak. "Bind them about thy neck." Prov. iii. 3.

2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person). "Have you much money about you" Bulwer.

3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout. Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses. Macaulay. Roving still about the world. Milton.

4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." Exod. ix. 18. "About my stature." Shak. He went out about the third hour. Matt. xx. 3.

Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.

5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on. I must be about my Father's business. Luke ii. 49.

6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive:

Definition: On the point or verge of; going; in act of. Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. Acts xviii. 14.

7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. "To treat about thy ransom." Milton. She must have her way about Sarah. Trollope.

A*bout", adv.

1. On all sides; around. 'Tis time to look about. Shak.

2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.

3. Here and there; around; in one place and another. Wandering about from house to house. 1 Tim. v. 13.

4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; -- also of quantity, number, time. "There fell . . . about three thousand men." Exod. xxii. 28.

5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about. To bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish.

– To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come.

– To go about, To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to prepare. "Shall we set about some revels Shak.

– Round about, in every direction around.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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