about

Adjective

• on the move
  • up and about
    
  • the whole town was astir over the incident
    

Adverb

• (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
    

• in rotation or succession
  • turn about is fair play
    

• in or to a reversed position or direction
  • about face
    
  • suddenly she turned around
    

• 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
    

• in the area or vicinity
  • a few spectators standing about
    
  • hanging around
    
  • waited around for the next flight
    

• 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
    

• (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
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  about(p) , astir(p) , almost , most , nearly , near , nigh , virtually , well-nigh , around , approximately , close to , just about , some , roughly , more or less , or so