1
a
: reasonably close to
about a year ago
b
: almost
about starved
just about finished
c
: on the verge of
—usually used with be and a following infinitive
is about to join the army
—used with a negative to express intention or determinationnot about to quit
2
: on all sides : around
looked about for a place to park
3
a
: in rotation
They go about in circles.
b
: around the outside
4
: in many different directions : here and there
walked about for hours
5
: in the vicinity : near
He spoke to the people standing about.
6
: in the opposite direction
face about
the other way about
1
: in a circle around : on every side of : around
People gathered about him.
2
a
: in the immediate neighborhood of : near
Fish are abundant about the reefs.
b
: on or near the person of
had a pleasing fragrance about her
c
: in the makeup of
a mature wisdom about him
d
: at the command of
has his wits about him
3
: engaged in
… act as if they know what they're about …—
T. S. Matthews
T. S. Matthews4
a
: with regard to : concerning
spoke about his past
b
: concerned with
c
: fundamentally concerned with or directed toward
… poker is about money.—David Mamet
David Mamet5
: over or in different parts of
He traveled about the country.
1
: moving from place to place
specifically
: being out of bed
is up and about by 7 a.m.
2
: around sense 2
There is a scarcity of jobs about.
Synonyms
Examples of about in a Sentence
Adverb
We're about ready to go.
This one is about as bad as that one.
That's about all I know at this point.
It's about time to go.
That's about all the time we have.
We tried just about everything we could think of.
Preposition
a poignant story about a young man who goes off to war
about the hedge there was a picket fence
Recent Examples on the Web
Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
By contrast, in that same category, HIP Health Maintenance Organization's reversal rate of about 38% impacted the next-highest number of grievances, totaling 1,794.
—David Robinson, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
City officials had already removed the pedestrian plaza Friday and were preparing to pay a contractor about $150,000 to paint over existing bicycle lanes and restore two-way traffic, rather than the current one-way alignment, early next week.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 9 Feb. 2025
Ah, now, the dumbing down of America is about to reach rock bottom.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for about 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adverb
Minnesota River responded quickly, however, getting a goal from Zetta Haugen about three minutes later.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
By contrast, in that same category, HIP Health Maintenance Organization's reversal rate of about 38% impacted the next-highest number of grievances, totaling 1,794.
—David Robinson, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
Preposition
At this point, you would be forgiven for worrying that Barker’s story might be about to take a dark turn, whether a tale of unfulfilled potential might become a tale of woe.
—Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
City officials had already removed the pedestrian plaza Friday and were preparing to pay a contractor about $150,000 to paint over existing bicycle lanes and restore two-way traffic, rather than the current one-way alignment, early next week.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Well, Muse wasn't about to let that get in the way.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 9 Feb. 2025
Ah, now, the dumbing down of America is about to reach rock bottom.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for about
Dictionary Entries Near about
Cite this Entry
“About.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/about. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
about
1 of 2 adverb1
: on all sides : around
wander about
people standing about
2
a
: reasonably close to : approximately, nearly
about three years
about ready to go
b
: on the verge of
is about to go home
3
: in the opposite direction
face about
about
2 of 2 preposition1
: on every side of : around
houses about the lake
2
a
b
: in the possession of
had no pencil about her
c
: in the control of
keeps her wits about her
3
: in the act or process of doing
do it well while you're about it
4
: having to do with : concerning
tell me about it
a book about birds
5
: over or in different parts of
traveled about the country
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