About

/əˈbaʊt/ adj, adv, prep, verb

adj, adv, prep, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: To change the course of (a ship) to the other tack; to bring (a ship) about.
  • Grammar: about is listed as adj, adv, prep, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: a lot of homework, about origin rotation phrase, again, against.
  • Useful contrasts: not about, by the by, by the way.
  • Usage evidence: I suppose it's different when you think about it over the long term.

How to use "about"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "about" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "about" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "about" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "about" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "about" is acting as adj, adv, prep, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "a lot of homework" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "about", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To change the course of (a ship) to the other tack; to bring (a ship) about. uncommon

    "The Channel at Archer's Hope Point lies close by the Shoar, and makes such an Angle there by reason of Hog Island, that going up or down the River, let the Wind be where it will, they must there bring the contrary Tack on Board, and generally when they About the Ship as they call it, they are so nigh the Shoar, that a Man may almost fling a Finger-stone on Board."

  2. 2
    To about-face (turn 180 degrees, like a soldier). humorous, possibly, uncommon

    "For quotations using this term, see Citations:about."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Moving around or in motion; astir. not-comparable

    "out and about;  up and about"

  2. 2
    In existence; being in evidence; apparent. not-comparable

    "This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable."

  3. 3
    Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood. not-comparable

    "I had my keys just a minute ago, so they must be about somewhere."

Adjective
  1. 1
    on the move wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    On all sides, or in every or any direction from a point; around. not-comparable

    "I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me."

  2. 2
    Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down. not-comparable

    "Bits of old machinery were lying about."

  3. 3
    From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity. not-comparable

    "walking about;  rushing about;  jumping about;  thrashing about"

  4. 4
    Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity. not-comparable

    "messing about;  fooling about;  loafing about"

  5. 5
    Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost. not-comparable

    "It’s about as cold as it was last winter."

Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    Near; in the vicinity. not-comparable

    "I looked round at the people standing about, and observed them curiously in their peculiar relation to it all."

  2. 7
    To a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction. not-comparable

    "to face about;  to turn oneself about"

  3. 8
    To a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction.; To the opposite tack: see go about. not-comparable

    "We went about and headed offshore."

  4. 9
    In succession, one after another. not-comparable, obsolete, rare

    "When he had finished, he drew his plaid around his head, and went slowly down to the little dell, where he used every day to offer up his morning and evening prayers, and where we have often sat together on Sabbath afternoons, reading verse about with our children in the Bible."

  5. 10
    In rotation or revolution. not-comparable, obsolete, rare

    "What an Arme he has, he turn'd me about with his finger and his thumbe, as one would set up a Top."

  6. 11
    In the course of events. not-comparable, obsolete, possibly

    "to bring about, to come about"

  7. 12
    In circuit or circumference; circularly. archaic, not-comparable

    "The island was a mile about, and a third of a mile across."

  8. 13
    By a circuitous way; circuitously. archaic, not-comparable

    "God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea."

Adverb
  1. 1
    (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct wordnet
  2. 2
    in the area or vicinity wordnet
  3. 3
    all around or on all sides wordnet
  4. 4
    in or to a reversed position or direction wordnet
  5. 5
    used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but wordnet
  2. 7
    in rotation or succession wordnet
Preposition
  1. 1
    In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.

    "The snake was coiled about his ankle."

  2. 2
    Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

    "Rubbish was strewn about the place."

  3. 3
    Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.; See about to.
  4. 4
    Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.; On the point or verge of. dialectal, obsolete

    "[It] was held, that the latter requirement was fulfilled by an affidavit declaring that "the defendant was about leaving the State permanently.""

  5. 5
    Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of.

    "He talked a lot about his childhood."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    Concerned or occupied with; engaged in; intent on.

    "just going about their business"

  2. 7
    Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.

    "I can’t find my reading glasses, but they must be somewhere about the house."

  3. 8
    On one’s person; nearby the person.

    "I had no weapon about me but a stick."

  4. 9
    On or near (one's person); attached as an attribute to; in the makeup of, or at the command of. figuratively

    "He has his wits about him."

Synonyms

All synonyms
a lot of homeworkabout origin rotation phraseagainagainstaimlesslyall but

Antonyms

not aboutby the byby the wayin passing

Example

"I suppose it's different when you think about it over the long term."

Common questions

What does "about" mean?

To change the course of (a ship) to the other tack; to bring (a ship) about.

What is a synonym for "about"?

Common synonyms include: a lot of homework, about origin rotation phrase, again, against, aimlessly, all but.

How do you use "about" in a sentence?

I suppose it's different when you think about it over the long term.

How do you pronounce "about"?

Pronounced /əˈbaʊt/.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *ana- Proto-West Germanic *ana- Old English on-? Proto-West Germanic *biūtan Old English būtan Old English onbūtan Middle English aboute English about Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”). Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”). Adjective from Middle English about (adverb).

More for "about"

Synonyms

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