Phrasal verb
move about
Definition
phrasal verb. to change your position or travel from place to place, often within a small area.
phrasal verb. to change position or location frequently; often used intransitively to describe physical activity or mobility within a confined space.
Examples
“The doctor told me to move about to help my leg heal.”
“It is difficult to move about in this crowded office because the desks are so close together.”
“The patient's ability to move about independently has improved significantly following several weeks of intensive physical therapy and daily exercise.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor told me to move about to help my leg heal.”
contextual
“It is difficult to move about in this crowded office because the desks are so close together.”
complex
“The patient's ability to move about independently has improved significantly following several weeks of intensive physical therapy and daily exercise.”
Usage
often used when talking about physical health, travel, or space constraints.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'move' (a single change of location) and 'move around' (often used interchangeably, though 'move about' can feel slightly more British or formal).
Pitfall
He is moving about the chair.
He is moving about in his chair.
when 'move about' refers to movement within a specific object or area, a preposition like 'in' or 'within' is usually needed unless 'about' is acting as the preposition itself.
Phrasal verb
Particles
about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
move + about
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/move-about