# about

/əˈbaʊt/ (US) · /ɐbˈaʊt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/about
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 1. concerning a topic

preposition · CEFR A1

on the subject of someone or something.

For teachers: concerning or relating to a particular subject, person, or event.

- We sat in the café and talked about our plans for the summer.
- The documentary raised several challenging questions about the long-term environmental impact of deep-sea mining operations.

Usage: Commonly follows verbs of communication like 'talk', 'write', or 'think'.

### 2. on one's person

preposition · CEFR B2 · British English · Formal

carried with you or near you.

For teachers: carried on one's person or located in the immediate vicinity.

- I don't have any cash about me at the moment.
- The witness claimed the suspect had no identification about him when the police arrived at the scene.

Usage: Often used with personal pronouns like 'me', 'him', or 'her'.

### 3. approximately

adverb · CEFR A1

used to show that a number or time is not exact.

For teachers: indicating an approximate amount, degree, or time; nearly.

- The journey to the airport takes about forty minutes by train.
- The restoration project is expected to cost about five million dollars, though the final figure depends on material availability.

Usage: Placed immediately before the number or measurement it modifies.

### 4. here and there

adverb · CEFR B1 · British English

in various places or in no particular direction.

For teachers: in or to various places; scattered in different directions within an area.

- They spent the afternoon wandering about the old town.
- Papers were strewn about the office, suggesting that the staff had left in a significant hurry.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'around' is much more common for this spatial sense.

### 5. active or nearby

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

out of bed and moving around; or simply present nearby.

For teachers: in motion or out of bed; present in the vicinity.

- Is the manager about? I need to ask her a quick question.
- Despite the early hour, there were already several fishermen about on the pier preparing their nets.

Usage: Usually functions as a predicative adjective after the verb 'to be'.

## Examples

- Tell me more about your new job.
- The documentary provides fascinating details about how migratory birds navigate across vast oceans every year.
- While the initial report was ostensibly about budget allocations, the subtext revealed a deeper concern about the long-term viability of the department's current research trajectory.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.