about

In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.

• The snake was coiled about his ankle.

Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

• Rubbish was strewn about the place.
• The children were running about the room.
• He was well known about town.

Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something. See about to. On the point or verge of.

See about to.

On the point or verge of.

Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of.

• He talked a lot about his childhood.
• We must do something about this problem.
• He is very mad about all the pranks.

Concerned or occupied with; engaged in; intent on.

• just going about their business
• Have you much hay about?
• “What’s Mary doin'?” “Oh! oo’s about th’ butter.”

Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.

• I can’t find my reading glasses, but they must be somewhere about the house.
• John’s in the garden, probably somewhere about the woodshed.

On or near (one’s person).

• I had no weapon about me but a stick.
• The policy covers all belongings and other personal things that somebody can carry about them.
• He has his wits about him.

Attached as an attribute to; in the makeup of, or at the command of.

• He has his wits about him.
• There was an air of confidence about the woman.

On all sides, or in every or any direction from a point; around.

• I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.

Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.

• Bits of old machinery were lying about.

From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.

• walking about;  rushing about;  jumping about;  thrashing about

Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.

• messing about;  fooling about;  loafing about

Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.

• It’s about as cold as it was last winter.
• He owes me about three hundred dollars.
• Dinner’s about ready.

Near; in the vicinity.

To a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction.

• to face about;  to turn oneself about
• We went about and headed offshore.

To the opposite tack: see go about.

• We went about and headed offshore.

In succession, one after another.

In rotation or revolution.

In the course of events.

• to bring about, to come about

In circuit or circumference; circularly.

• The island was a mile about, and a third of a mile across.

By a circuitous way; circuitously.

Moving around or in motion; astir.

• out and about;  up and about
• After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.

In existence; being in evidence; apparent.

• This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable.

Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood.

• I had my keys just a minute ago, so they must be about somewhere.
• Watch out, there's a thief about.

To change the course of (a ship) to the other tack; to bring (a ship) about.

To about-face (turn 180 degrees, like a soldier).