Meaning & Definition of About in English

1. On the move

• "Up and about"

• "The whole town was astir over the incident"

1. (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct

• "Lasted approximately an hour"

• "In just about a minute"

• "He's about 30 years old"

• "I've had about all i can stand"

• "We meet about once a month"

• "Some forty people came"

• "Weighs around a hundred pounds"

• "Roughly $3,000"

• "Holds 3 gallons, more or less"

• "20 or so people were at the party"

2. All around or on all sides

• "Dirty clothes lying around (or about)"

• "Let's look about for help"

• "There were trees growing all around"

• "She looked around her"

3. In the area or vicinity

• "A few spectators standing about"

• "Hanging around"

• "Waited around for the next flight"

4. 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"

• "News gets around (or about)"

• "Traveled around in asia"

• "He needs advice from someone who's been around"

• "She sleeps around"

5. In or to a reversed position or direction

• "About face"

• "Suddenly she turned around"

6. In rotation or succession

• "Turn about is fair play"

7. (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"

• "We're almost finished"

• "The car all but ran her down"

• "He nearly fainted"

• "Talked for nigh onto 2 hours"

• "The recording is well-nigh perfect"

• "Virtually all the parties signed the contract"

• "I was near exhausted by the run"

• "Most everyone agrees"