about

/ษ™หˆbaสŠt/

IPA: /AH0 B AW1 T/

adjective
  1. 1

    Moving around; astir.

    โ€œAfter my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.โ€

  2. 2

    In existence; being in evidence; apparent.

    โ€œThis idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable.โ€

  3. 3

    Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood.

    โ€œI had my keys just a minute ago, so they must be about somewhere.โ€

adverb
  1. 1

    On all sides; around.

    โ€œI looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.โ€

  2. 2

    Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.

    โ€œBits of old machinery were lying about.โ€

  3. 3

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

    โ€œwalking about;โ€ƒ rushing about;โ€ƒ jumping about;โ€ƒ thrashing aboutโ€

  4. 4

    Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.

    โ€œmessing about;โ€ƒ fooling about;โ€ƒ loafing aboutโ€

  5. 5

    Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.

    โ€œDinner's about ready.โ€

  6. 6

    Near; in the vicinity.

  7. 7

    To a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view.

    โ€œto face about;โ€ƒ to turn oneself aboutโ€

  8. 8

    In succession; one after another; in the course of events.

  9. 9

    In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; in circumference.

    โ€œa mile about, and a third of a mile acrossโ€

Synonyms

preposition
  1. 1

    In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.

    โ€œThe snake was coiled about his ankle.โ€

  2. 2

    Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

    โ€œHe was well known about town.โ€

  3. 3

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

  4. 4

    Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect.

    โ€œHe talked a lot about his childhood.โ€

  5. 5

    Concerned with; engaged in; intent on.

    โ€œto be about one's businessโ€

  6. 6

    Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.

    โ€œI can't find my reading glasses, but they must be somewhere about the house.โ€

  7. 7

    On one's person; nearby the person.

    โ€œI had no weapon about me but a stick.โ€

  8. 8

    In or near, as in mental faculties or in the possession of; under the control of; at one's command; in one's makeup.

    โ€œHe has his wits about him.โ€

Source: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/about