about
Meaning
-
- In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.
- Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
- Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
- (obsolete) Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
- Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect.
- Concerned with; engaged in; intent on.
- Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.
- On one’s person; nearby the person.
- In or near, as in mental faculties or (literally) in the possession of; under the control of; at one's command; in one's makeup.
Synonyms
with reference to
pertaining to
round about
in reference to
relating to
as concerns
in regard to
somewhere around
that is why
main point
before it
on all sides
about to do
general outline
in the sense of
with regard
referring to
away from
related to
on as for
apporoximate
by contraries
much about
start with
opus so
about it
about that
somewhere between
in the ball park
as many as
in the area
in the region of
in the vicinity
not exactly
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/əˈbaʊt/
Etymology
Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”). Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”). Adjective from Middle English about (adverb).
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