Definition of 'about'
In addition to the uses shown below, about is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives to introduce extra information. About is also often used after verbs of movement, such as 'walk' and 'drive', and in phrasal
verbs such as 'mess about' and 'set about', especially in British English.
1. preposition
You use about to introduce who or what something relates to or concerns.
She came in for a coffee, and told me about her friend Shona.
She knew a lot about food.
The neighbours complained about the noise.
...advice about exercise and diet.
2. preposition
When you mention the things that an activity or institution is about, you are saying what it involves or what its aims are.
Leadership is about the ability to implement change.
3. preposition
You use about after some adjectives to indicate the person or thing that a feeling or state of mind relates to.
'I'm sorry about Patrick,' she said.
I feel so guilty and angry about the whole issue.
4. preposition
5. preposition
When you say that there is a particular quality about someone or something, you mean that they have this quality.
There was a warmth and passion about him I never knew existed.
I think there's something a little peculiar about the results of your test.
6. adverb
In my local health centre there's about forty parking spaces.
The rate of inflation is running at about 2.7 percent.
7. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If someone or something moves about, they keep moving in different directions.
Everyone was running about.
He wandered about the town stopping to listen to bands.
His hair was drifting about his shoulders like dirty snow.
8. preposition
If you put something about a person or thing, you put it around them.
Helen threw her arms about him.
She was elegantly dressed with a double strand of pearls about her neck.
9. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
10.
11. how about
12. what about
13. just about
14.
15.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'about'
preposition
1.
relating to; concerning; on the subject of
3.
carried on
I haven't any money about me
4.
on every side of; all the way around
6. about to
adverb
8.
9.
here and there; from place to place; in no particular direction
walk about to keep warm
10.
all around; on every side
13.
I've had just about enough of your insults
it's about time you stopped
adjective
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'about'
adverb
1.
on every side; all around
look about
2.
here and there; in all directions
travel about
3.
in circumference; around the outside
ten miles about
4.
near
standing somewhere about
adjective
9.
astir; on the move
he is up and about again
11.
preposition
12.
around; on all sides of
14.
near to in time or space
born about 1960, keeping my keys about me
16.
on the subject of; concerning
a book about ships
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Example sentences containing 'about'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
Read more…
It is hard as a rugby player to talk about stuff like that. Times, Sunday Times (2016)But this could be about to turn on its head. The Sun (2016)This raises questions about whether the industry will pass on savings from planned action against whiplash claims. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It had begun about a week after he promised me it was only me he wanted. The Sun (2016)No one wants to know about that. Times, Sunday Times (2017)My advice is to think about why you keep cheating like this. The Sun (2016)We often hear about the work ethic of sportspeople. Times, Sunday Times (2017)What is this thing about being nostalgic? Times, Sunday Times (2016)The positive side is that you now feel you are a different person and you can do something about your life. The Sun (2016)They are just about holding on. The Sun (2016)What was it that she liked so much about his plays? Times, Sunday Times (2008)You might like to think about turning this around. Life Without Work (1994)But she was disqualified when doctors discovered something odd about her physiology. Christianity Today (2000)We need to keep our wits about us. The Sun (2011)What was the worst thing about being a footballer in your era? Times, Sunday Times (2009)Have a think about that nearer the time and let us know. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Now think about whether you have let that person know what it is you do want. Life Without Work (1994)Yet we barely know anything about these angry men. The Times Literary Supplement (2012)Ran lineout effectively and put himself about. Times, Sunday Times (2012) Think about how the place made you feel. Times, Sunday Times (2011)It was a most interesting group of passengers who milled about inside and around the tiny terminal. Titanic - Destination disaster (1987)What do you like most about your body? The Sun (2011)But he said that they had found something to laugh about. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Or perhaps worried about keeping precious digital files on a single smartphone or computer? Times, Sunday Times (2012)Celebrities often moan about being recognised in public. The Sun (2009)The great thing about her style is that she mixes the high street with designer wear. The Sun (2012)It is about whether a nation chooses to remember or to forget. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Wanting to know more about your birth dad is natural. The Sun (2015)Talk about looking after your own. The Sun (2014)Not that it's just about numbers. Times, Sunday Times (2007)While you watch, talk to your partner about what is turning you on and why. The Sun (2016)There was a large mushroom growing near her, about the same height as herself. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865)I felt like this about her after two months. The Sun (2015)
Trends of 'about'
Extremely Common. about is one of the 1000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
View usage for:
Translations for 'about'
British English: about
/əˈbaʊt/ ADVERB
near to About means near to something.
His grandfather is about 80 years old.
- American English: about
- Arabic: حَوَالي
- Brazilian Portuguese: aproximadamente
- Chinese: 关于
- Croatian: oko
- Czech: kolem
- Danish: omkring
- Dutch: ongeveer
- European Spanish: más o menos
- Finnish: suunnilleen
- French: autour de
- German: ungefähr
- Greek: περίπου
- Italian: circa
- Japanese: およそ
- Korean: 대략
- Norwegian: omkring
- Polish: mniej więcej
- European Portuguese: aproximadamente
- Romanian: aproape
- Russian: около
- Spanish: más o menos
- Swedish: omkring
- Thai: ใกล้
- Turkish: yaklaşık
- Ukrainian: приблизно
- Vietnamese: khoảng
British English: about
/əˈbaʊt/ PREPOSITION
to do with About means to do with.
This book is about history.
- American English: about
- Arabic: عَنْ
- Brazilian Portuguese: sobre
- Chinese: 关于
- Croatian: o
- Czech: o
- Danish: om
- Dutch: over
- European Spanish: acerca de
- Finnish: NO TRANSLATION
- French: à propos de
- German: über
- Greek: περί
- Italian: su
- Japanese: ･･･について
- Korean: ...에 관하여
- Norwegian: om
- Polish: o
- European Portuguese: sobre
- Romanian: despre
- Russian: о
- Spanish: acerca de
- Swedish: om
- Thai: เกี่ยวกับ
- Turkish: hakkında
- Ukrainian: про
- Vietnamese: về liên quan đến
Nearby words of 'about'
Related Terms of 'about'
Source
Definition of about from the
Collins English Dictionary
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