Definitions
1.adverbOn all sides; around."I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me."
2.adverbHere and there; around; in one place and another; up and down."Bits of old machinery were lying about."
3.adverbFrom one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity."walking about; rushing about; jumping about; thrashing about"
4.adverbIndicating unproductive or unstructured activity."messing about; fooling about; loafing about"
5.adverbNearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost."Dinner's about ready."
6.adverbNear; in the vicinity.
7.adverbTo a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view."to face about; to turn oneself about"
8.adverbIn succession; one after another; in the course of events.
9.adverbIn circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; in circumference."a mile about, and a third of a mile across"
10.prepositionIn a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of."The snake was coiled about his ankle."
11.prepositionOver or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout."He was well known about town."
12.prepositionIndicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
13.prepositionConcerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect."He talked a lot about his childhood."
14.prepositionConcerned with; engaged in; intent on."to be about one's business"
15.prepositionWithin 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."
16.prepositionOn one's person; nearby the person."I had no weapon about me but a stick."
17.prepositionIn or near, as in mental faculties or in the possession of; under the control of; at one's command; in one's makeup."He has his wits about him."