About

Definition

About is commonly used as a preposition and an adverb. As a preposition, it means "concerning" or "in relation to." As an adverb, it can mean "approximately" or "nearly."

Parts of Speech

• Preposition
• Adverb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /əˈbaʊt/
• Respelling: uh-BOUT

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /əˈbaʊt/
• Respelling: uh-BOUT

Etymology

The word "about" originates from the Old English "onbūtan," meaning "on the outside of" or "around," with "on" meaning "on" and "būtan" meaning "outside." Over time, its meaning evolved to include a broader range of relational and approximate meanings.

Derivatives

• Abouts (noun, plural)
• About-face (noun)
• About-turn (noun)
• Roundabout (noun)
• Out-and-about (adjective)

Synonyms

• Regarding
• Approximately
• Concerning

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The word "about" is versatile and used widely in English. As a preposition, it expresses relation to a subject or topic, such as "a book about history." As an adverb, it conveys approximation, as in "about 10 minutes left."

Related Terms

• Regarding: Used to specify a subject or focus of discussion.
• Around: Refers to a physical or conceptual encircling.
• Approximate: Close to the correct answer or value but not exact.

Detailed Definitions

Preposition

• Concerning or in relation to: Used to indicate the subject or topic of something.
  • Example: "She asked about the new policies."

Adverb

• Approximately or nearly: Used to give an estimate or an approximate value.
  • Example: "It’s about 3 miles from here."