About meaning

What does “about” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“about” is an adjective and adverb with 8 meanings. Its most common meaning is: on the move.

about

on the move
“up and about”
“the whole town was astir over the incident”
Synonymsastir

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
“lasted approximately an hour”
“in just about a minute”
Synonymsapproximately close to just about some roughly more or less around or so
all around or on all sides
“dirty clothes lying around (or about)”
“let's look about for help”
Synonymsaround
in the area or vicinity
“a few spectators standing about”
“hanging around”
Synonymsaround
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”
Synonymsaround
in or to a reversed position or direction
“about face”
“suddenly she turned around”
Synonymsaround
in rotation or succession
“turn about is fair play”
(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”
Synonymsalmost most nearly near nigh virtually well-nigh

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University