ENGLISH
REFERENCE

move about

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford General-service

phr. v.. to change your position or travel from place to place, often within a small area.

phr. v.. to change position or location frequently; often used intransitively to describe physical activity or mobility within a confined space.


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.

Particles
about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
move + about
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.

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