about

 
Pronunciation: /əˈbaʊt/

preposition

  • 1on the subject of; concerning: I was thinking about you a book about ancient Greece it’s all about having fun
  • so as to affect: there’s nothing we can do about it
  • 2chiefly British used to indicate movement within a particular area: she looked about the room
  • 3chiefly British used to express location in a particular place: rugs were strewn about the hall he produced a knife from somewhere about his person
  • used to describe a quality apparent in a person: there was a look about her that said everything

adverb

  • 1chiefly British used to indicate movement within an area: men were floundering about finding my way about
  • 2chiefly British used to express location in a particular place: there was a lot of flu about
  • 3(used with a number or quantity) approximately: reduced by about 5 per cent he’s about 35

Phrases

be about to do something

intend to do something, or be close to doing something, very soon: the ceremony was about to begin

be not about to do something

be unwilling to do something: he is not about to step down after so long

be on about

see on

know what one is about

informal be sensible, self-possessed, and aware of how to deal with difficult situations: don’t go to the Congo without knowing what you’re about

Origin:

Old English onbūtan, from on 'in, on' + būtan 'outside of' (see but2)