About

/əˈbaʊt/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A concern or topic of discussion.
The main about was the upcoming elections.
preposition
On the subject of; concerning.
We had a discussion about the importance of education.
In the vicinity of; near.
The park is about three blocks away from my house.
Around; in a circular direction.
They walked about the city for hours.
adverb
Approximately; nearly.
The project will take about a week to complete.
In a general way; essentially.
You have to know about the risks before you start.

Etymology

Middle English: from Old English 'abūtan', meaning 'on the outside' or 'in the vicinity of'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

in and about:
In various places or conditions.
about time:
An expression indicating that something should have happened earlier.
what's it about:
Asking for the subject or meaning of something.
up and about:
Recovered and active, especially after an illness.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

About to
I'm about to hit the road.
About that life
He's all about that hustle.