What does about mean in English? Meaning of about definition and abbreviation with examples.
Meaning of "about": on the move
Adjective
Meaning: on the moveExample: up and about
the whole town was astir over the incidentSynonyms: about
astirSimilar: activeMeaning of "about": (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
Adverb
Meaning: (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correctExample: 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 partySynonyms: about
approximately
around
close to
just about
more or less
or so
roughly
someMeaning of "about": all around or on all sides
Adverb
Meaning: all around or on all sidesExample: dirty clothes lying around (or about)
let's look about for help
There were trees growing all around
she looked around herSynonyms: about
aroundMeaning of "about": in the area or vicinity
Adverb
Meaning: in the area or vicinityExample: a few spectators standing about
hanging around
waited around for the next flightSynonyms: about
aroundMeaning of "about": used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction
Adverb
Meaning: used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular directionExample: 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 aroundSynonyms: about
aroundMeaning of "about": in or to a reversed position or direction
Adverb
Meaning: in or to a reversed position or directionExample: about face
suddenly she turned aroundSynonyms: about
aroundMeaning of "about": in rotation or succession
Adverb
Meaning: in rotation or successionExample: turn about is fair playSynonyms: aboutMeaning of "about": (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
Adverb
Meaning: (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all butExample: 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 agreesSynonyms: about
almost
most
near
nearly
nigh
virtually
well-nighAdjective: In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of. [First attested prior to 1150.][2] c.1604-1605, William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well So look about you; know you any here? 1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Proverbs, iii, 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:c.1604-1605, William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well So look about you; know you any here?1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Proverbs, iii, 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:Near; not far from; regarding approximately time, size, quantity. [First attested prior to 1150.][2] c.1590-1591, William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona Therefore I know she is about my height. 1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Matthew, xx, 3, And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace 1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Exodus, ix, 18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 4, Mr. Pratt's Patients: I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite. 2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, The Economist, volume 408, number 8845: [The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across. Such pits are about the size of a bacterial cell. Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, […] .c.1590-1591, William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona Therefore I know she is about my height.1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Matthew, xx, 3, And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Exodus, ix, 18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 4, Mr. Pratt's Patients: I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, The Economist, volume 408, number 8845: [The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across. Such pits are about the size of a bacterial cell. Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, […] .On the point or verge of. 1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Acts of the Apostles, xviii, 14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 1866, A treatise on the law of suits by attachment in the United States, by Charles Daniel Drake, page 80 [It] was held, that the latter requirement was fulfilled by an affidavit declaring that "the defendant was about leaving the State permanently." (Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.) 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 1, The Celebrity: I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West. the show is about to start; I am not about to admit to your crime1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Acts of the Apostles, xviii, 14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:1866, A treatise on the law of suits by attachment in the United States, by Charles Daniel Drake, page 80 [It] was held, that the latter requirement was fulfilled by an affidavit declaring that "the defendant was about leaving the State permanently." (Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.)1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 1, The Celebrity: I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.On one's person; nearby the person. [First attested around (1150 to 1350.)][2] 1837, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Ernest Maltravers: Volume 1 At this assurance the traveller rose, and approached Alice softly. He drew away her hands from her face, when she said gently, "Have you much money about you?" "Oh the mercenary baggage!" said the traveller to himself; and then replied aloud "Why, pretty one? Do you sell your kisses so high, then?"1837, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Ernest Maltravers: Volume 1 At this assurance the traveller rose, and approached Alice softly. He drew away her hands from her face, when she said gently, "Have you much money about you?" "Oh the mercenary baggage!" said the traveller to himself; and then replied aloud "Why, pretty one? Do you sell your kisses so high, then?"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.)][2] 1671, John Milton, Paradise Regained That heard the Adversary, who, roving still / About the world, at that assembly famed ... 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The history of England from the accession of James the Second He had been known, during several years, as a small poet; and some of the most savage lampoons which were handed about the coffeehouses were imputed to him.1671, John Milton, Paradise Regained That heard the Adversary, who, roving still / About the world, at that assembly famed ...1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The history of England from the accession of James the Second He had been known, during several years, as a small poet; and some of the most savage lampoons which were handed about the coffeehouses were imputed to him.Concerned with; engaged in; intent on. [First attested around (1150 to 1350.)][2] 1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Luke, ii, 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 2013 March 14, Parks and Recreation, season 5, episode 16, Bailout: RON: And I'll have the number 8. WAITER: That's a party platter, it serves 12 people. RON: I know what I'm about, son.1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Luke, ii, 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?2013 March 14, Parks and Recreation, season 5, episode 16, Bailout: RON: And I'll have the number 8. WAITER: That's a party platter, it serves 12 people. RON: I know what I'm about, son.Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect. [First attested around (1150 to 1350.)][2] He knew more about what was occurring than anyone. 1671 John Milton, Samson Agonistes I already have made way / To some Philistian lords, with whom to treat / About thy ransom. 1860, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage "I'll tell you what, Fanny: she must have her way about Sarah Thompson. You can see her to-morrow and tell her so." 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 4, Mr. Pratt's Patients: I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite. 2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70: Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.1671 John Milton, Samson Agonistes I already have made way / To some Philistian lords, with whom to treat / About thy ransom.1860, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage "I'll tell you what, Fanny: she must have her way about Sarah Thompson. You can see her to-morrow and tell her so."1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 4, Mr. Pratt's Patients: I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70: Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.(figuratively) In or near, as in mental faculties or (literally) in possession of; in control of; at one's command; in one's makeup. [First attested around (1350 to 1470.)][2] He has his wits about him. 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, The Celebrity: Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. […] A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes. […] But withal there was a perceptible acumen about the man which was puzzling in the extreme.1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, The Celebrity: Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. […] A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes. […] But withal there was a perceptible acumen about the man which was puzzling in the extreme.In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place. [First attested around (1350 to 1470.)][2] 1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, The Lonely Pyramid: The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. […] Roaring, leaping, pouncing, the tempest raged about the wanderers, drowning and blotting out their forms with sandy spume.1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, The Lonely Pyramid: The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. […] Roaring, leaping, pouncing, the tempest raged about the wanderers, drowning and blotting out their forms with sandy spume.Synonyms:
around, back, backward, round, in reverse, around, any which way, anyhow, here and there, almost, nearly, roughly, approximately, practically, in general, in the ball park, in the neighborhood, pretty nearly, apropos, regarding, touching, as concerns, as respects, dealing with, in connection with, in relation to, in respect to, referring to, relative to, touching on, nearby, adjacent, beside, through, around, round, surrounding, throughout, encircling,
Antonyms:
afar, away, distant, far, remote, afar, away, distant, far, remote, afar, away, distant, far, remote, afar, away, distant, far, remote,
