Definition and meaning of English word "about"
about
/əˈbaʊt/
Meaning
PrepositionIn a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.
How to use
The preposition 'about' is commonly used in informal and formal contexts to indicate a surrounding or approximate location. A learner should note that 'about' often implies a less precise location than 'around' and can sometimes be interchangeable with 'approximately' or 'nearly'. However, in some cases, particularly in British English, 'about' can be used in a more abstract sense to mean 'concerning' or 'regarding', which might cause confusion for non-native speakers.
🇬🇧 English
about
Example
Talk about it
About 10 people
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- all about— all about
- be about— be about
- talk about— talk about
More Connectors & Prepositions words
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #392 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "about" mean?▼
The English word "about" means "about" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "about"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "about" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "about"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Talk about it" (which translates as "about").
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