About — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of About
About (adverb)
- reasonably close to
- almost
- on the verge of —usually used with be and a following infinitive —used with a negative to express intention or determination
About (preposition)
- in a circle around, on every side of, around
- in the immediate neighborhood of, near
- on or near the person of
About (adjective)
- moving from place to place; specifically, being out of bed
- around
About (preposition) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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having to do with
"a poignant story about a young man who goes off to war"
-
close to
"about the hedge there was a picket fence"
-
in random positions within the boundaries of
"sparrows hopping about the lawn near the bird feeder"
About (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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on all sides or in every direction
"people standing about waiting for a salesclerk to assist them"
-
toward the opposite direction
"turned about and saw the dog following him"
-
very close to but not completely
"about as many attendees as last year signed up for the conference"
-
close to but not exactly
"it's about a mile to the nearest gas station"
"we're about ready to get started"
-
in one place and another
"his garage was a dirty, cluttered place with various tools and engine parts just lying about"
About (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
as in up, astir
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for About
The most common words with a similar meaning to About:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for About
Words with the opposite meaning of About:
Near Antonyms of About
Origin & Etymology of About
Middle English abuten, aboute, going back to Old English abūtan, abūton, from a- a-:1 + būtan "outside, without" but:1
First known use: before 12th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for About
- Topics: Grammar Function Words
Words & Phrases Containing About
Frequently Asked Questions about About
What does "About" mean?
"About" means reasonably close to. As an an adverb, a preposition and an adjective, it is defined as: reasonably close to. It has 9 distinct senses.
What is another word for "About"?
Other words for "About" include apropos, apropos of, as far as, as for, as regards, as to, concerning and of. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "About" you intend.
What are different ways to say "About"?
There are 114 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "About". Common alternatives include apropos, apropos of, as far as, as for, as regards, as to, concerning, of, on and regarding.
What is the opposite of "About"?
Antonyms of "About" include exactly, precisely, asleep, dormant, dozing, napping, resting and sleeping. Near antonyms include clockwise, deasil, absolutely and altogether.
How do you use "About" in a sentence?
Examples of "About" in a sentence: "a poignant story about a young man who goes off to war"; "about the hedge there was a picket fence"; "sparrows hopping about the lawn near the bird feeder".
Is "About" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"About" can be used as an adverb, a preposition and an adjective, depending on the context.
How do you pronounce "About"?
"About" is pronounced /ə-ˈbau̇t/.
What is the origin of the word "About"?
"About" comes from Middle English abuten, aboute, going back to Old English abūtan, abūton, from a- a-:1 + būtan "outside, without" but:1. First known use: before 12th century.