Definitions
1.PrepositionIn a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}"The snake was coiled about his ankle."
2.PrepositionOver 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.; The children were running about the room.; He was well known about town."
3.PrepositionIndicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
See about to.
On the point or verge of.
4.PrepositionSee about to.
5.PrepositionOn the point or verge of.
6.PrepositionConcerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of."He talked a lot about his childhood.; We must do something about this problem.; He is very mad about all the pranks."
7.PrepositionConcerned or occupied with; engaged in; intent on."just going about their business; Have you much hay about?; “What’s Mary doin'?” “Oh! oo’s about th’ butter.”"
8.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.; John’s in the garden, probably somewhere about the woodshed."
9.PrepositionOn one’s person; nearby the person."I had no weapon about me but a stick.; The policy covers all belongings and other personal things that somebody can carry about them."
10.PrepositionOn or near (one's person); attached as an attribute to; in the makeup of, or at the command of."He has his wits about him.; There was an air of confidence about the woman."
11.AdverbOn all sides, or in every or any direction from a point; around."I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me."
12.AdverbHere and there; around; in one place and another; up and down."Bits of old machinery were lying about."
13.AdverbFrom one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity."walking about; rushing about; jumping about; thrashing about"
14.AdverbIndicating unproductive or unstructured activity."messing about; fooling about; loafing about"
15.AdverbNearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost."It’s about as cold as it was last winter.; He owes me about three hundred dollars.; Dinner’s about ready.; I was so scared, I about fainted.; I’ll see you at about 4 o'clock; I'll see you about a year from now.; The next conference will be held about a year from now in a venue about six miles from here."
16.AdverbNear; in the vicinity.
17.AdverbTo a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction."to face about; to turn oneself about; We went about and headed offshore."
18.AdverbTo the opposite tack: see go about."We went about and headed offshore."
19.AdverbIn succession, one after another.
20.AdverbIn rotation or revolution.
21.AdverbIn the course of events."to bring about, to come about"
22.AdverbIn circuit or circumference; circularly."The island was a mile about, and a third of a mile across."
23.AdverbBy a circuitous way; circuitously.
24.AdjectiveMoving around or in motion; astir."out and about; up and about; After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again."
25.AdjectiveIn existence; being in evidence; apparent."This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable."
26.AdjectiveNear; in the vicinity or neighbourhood."I had my keys just a minute ago, so they must be about somewhere.; Watch out, there's a thief about."
27.VerbTo change the course of (a ship) to the other tack; to bring (a ship) about.
28.VerbTo about-face (turn 180 degrees, like a soldier).