About
/əˈbaʊt/
prepositionadverbadjectiveA1
Definition
"About" is a small word that helps us talk about topics, places near something, or approximate numbers and times. It can show what something is related to, where something is located near, or that something is almost but not exact.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Showing the subject or topic of something
- •We talked about the movie last night.
- •This book is about animals.
- •She asked about your health.
Meaning "around" or "near" a place or position
- •There are many trees about the house.
- •He looked about the room for his keys.
- •The children ran about the playground.
Showing an approximate number, time, or amount
- •There were about ten people at the party.
- •The meeting will start at about 3 PM.
- •It costs about five dollars.
(Adjective) Ready or prepared to do something
- •The team is about to start the game.
- •She was about to leave when the phone rang.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "about" like "around" (A1 word), but used in many ways including topics and time, not just places
- ✓Picture a circle around a point, showing things near or connected to it
- ✓It's the feeling when you talk about something without giving exact details, like saying "about five" instead of "five exactly"
- ✓Sounds like "uh-BOUT" → imagine a boat going around an island, close but not inside it
- ✓Remember when you say "Let's talk about your day"—you are focusing on the topic
- ✓NOT like "exactly" (which means perfect and precise), "about" means near or close but not exact
- ✓NOT like "in" (which means inside), "about" can mean near or around but not inside
- ✓NOT like "on" (which means touching the surface), "about" can mean near but not touching
Try Other Words
- •Around: near a place or position (Use when talking about physical location)
- •Approximately: near a number or time (Use when you want to be more formal about approximate amounts)
- •Concerning: about a topic (Use in formal writing when talking about subjects)
- •Ready: prepared to do something (Use when "about" means "about to do" something)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No prefix or suffix; a simple word
- •Etymology: From Old English "abutan," meaning "on the outside of, around"
- •Historical development: Used since early English to mean around, near, or concerning something
- •Modern usage: Very common in everyday English for topics, locations, approximate amounts, and readiness
Reflect & Connect
•How does the word "about" help you talk when you don't know exact details?
•Can "about" be used to show both physical places and ideas? How does this make it useful in conversation?
Fill in the blanks
1.We spoke about ___ plans for the weekend.
2.There were about ___ people waiting outside the building.
3.The cat walked about ___ the room quietly.
4.She was about ___ leave when the phone rang.
5.This book is ___ animals and their habits.
6.The meeting will start at about ___ 4 o’clock.
7.Look ___ the table and you will find the keys.