about
uh-BOWT
About (prep) means concerning a particular subject; on the topic of. Example: “The documentary is about deep-sea creatures.”
prep
1
Concerning a particular subject; on the topic of.
"The documentary is about deep-sea creatures."
"She asked him about his weekend."
"This book is about a girl who builds a boat."
2
Surrounding, or in various places within an area.
"Papers were scattered about the room."
"Children were running about the garden all afternoon."
"There were boxes lying about the hallway after the move."
adv
1
Close to a number, amount, or time; approximately.
"We'll arrive at about six o'clock."
"The trip costs about two hundred pounds."
"The soup needs about ten more minutes on the stove."
adj
1
On the point of doing something; on the verge of.
"He was about to leave when the phone rang."
"I'm about to start cooking, so please set the table."
"The train is about to leave the platform, so hurry!"
How to use about
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flexible little word covering topic ("about the weather"), rough location ("about the house"), and rough estimate ("about ten").
Common pairings
about to
what about
about time
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like about.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- abouts
- Past tense
- abouted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The documentary is _____ deep-sea creatures.
Etymology
From Old English onbutan, a fusion of on and butan ("outside of"), which itself combines be ("by") and utan ("outside") — so, quite literally, "by the outside."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for about
See all rhymes for about →Frequently asked questions
What does “about” mean?
The word “about” means concerning a particular subject; on the topic of. In plain terms, a flexible little word covering topic ("about the weather"), rough location ("about the house"), and rough estimate ("about ten").
How do you pronounce “about”?
“About” is pronounced uh-BOWT (/əˈbaʊ̯t/ in IPA).
How do you use “about” in a sentence?
Here is “about” used in a sentence: “The documentary is about deep-sea creatures.”
What is another word for “about”?
Words with a similar meaning to “about” include anent, apropos, apropos of, as far as, as regards and as for.
What is the opposite of “about”?
The opposite of “about” — its antonyms — are by the by, by the way, irrespective of, malapropos and in passing.
What part of speech is “about”?
Depending on how it is used, “about” can be a preposition, an adverb and an adjective.
Where does the word “about” come from?
The word “about” comes from Old English. From Old English onbutan, a fusion of on and butan ("outside of"), which itself combines be ("by") and utan ("outside") — so, quite literally, "by the outside.".
Is “about” a common word?
“About” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between "about" and "on" for topics?
Both introduce a subject, but "on" suggests something more formal or systematic: "a lecture on quantum physics" versus "a chat about the weather." "About" is the neutral, everyday choice and fits almost any context.
What is the difference between "about" and "around"?
When the meaning is "surrounding" or "here and there within an area," the two overlap: "papers scattered about the room" or "around the room." "Around" is generally more common in American English, while "about" in this spatial sense can sound slightly more literary or British.
Is "about" more informal than "regarding" or "concerning"?
"About" is the plain, everyday preposition for introducing a topic, while "regarding," "concerning," and "with regard to" belong to formal or business writing. Style guides generally recommend "about" unless extra formality is genuinely needed.
Can "about" mean approximately?
Yes, "about" is commonly used before numbers and quantities to mean "roughly": "about ten miles," "about an hour." This use is neutral in register and works in both formal and informal writing.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing about in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
From the move away from formal courtship to the arrival of dating apps and now a generation asking more questions about who should make the first move.
From
BBC · Jul 26, 2026
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include about:
