About
/əˈbaʊt/
prepositionBeginnerVery CommonGeneral
Meanings
Question
Definitions
2 meanings1
Expressing approximation, direction, or location.
/əˈbaʊt/
prepositionneutralBeginner
General
expressing approximation, direction, or location
She was about to leave for the airport.
💡 Simply: Close to or around
More Examples
2
The book is about that topic.
3
There were about twenty people at the meeting.
How It's Used
General
"I have lived here for about thirty years."
2
Used to refer to something indirectly or generally.
/əˈbaʊt/
adverbneutralIntermediate
General
used to refer to something indirectly or generally
Let's talk about something else.
💡 Simply: Indirectly or generally
More Examples
2
He is an expert about these kinds of issues.
3
I don't know much about politics.
How It's Used
General
"She is writing about art and culture."
Tip:Imagine talking about something without directly mentioning it.
Originally meant 'in circulation', from Old English 'onbūtan', which means 'out of, away from'.
Historically, 'about' was used in the sense of 'circulating or floating around'.
Memory tip
Imagine something being close to or around another thing.
Practice
abotabotuabowt
Usage
85%Spoken
70%Written