about
In addition to the uses shown below, about is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives to introduce extra information. About is also often used after verbs of movement, such as `walk' and `drive', and in phrasal verbs such as `mess about' and `set about', especially in British English.
1 prep You use about to introduce who or what something relates to or concerns.
She came in for a coffee, and told me about her friend Shona..., She knew a lot about food..., He never complains about his wife.
2 prep When you mention the things that an activity or institution is about, you are saying what it involves or what its aims are.
Leadership is about the ability to implement change.
3 prep You use about after some adjectives to indicate the person or thing that a feeling or state of mind relates to.
`I'm sorry about Patrick,' she said..., I feel so guilty and angry about the whole issue.
4 prep If you do something about a problem, you take action in order to solve it.
Rachel was going to do something about Jacob...
5 prep When you say that there is a particular quality about someone or something, you mean that they have this quality.
I think there's something a little peculiar about the results of your test.
6 adv About is used in front of a number to show that the number is not exact.
ADV num
(=approximately, around) (Antonym: precisely)
In my local health centre there's about forty parking spaces..., The rate of inflation is running at about 2.7 percent.
7 adv If someone or something moves about, they keep moving in different directions.
ADV after v
(=around)
Everyone was running about.
About is also a preposition., prep v PREP n
(=around)
From 1879 to 1888 he wandered about Germany, Switzerland, and Italy...
8 prep If you put something about a person or thing, you put it around them.
(=round, around)
Helen threw her arms about him...
9 adj If someone or something is about, they are present or available.
v-link ADJ
There's lots of money about these days for schemes like this.
10 adj If you are aboutto do something, you are going to do it very soon. If something is aboutto happen, it will happen very soon.
v-link ADJ to-inf
I think he's about to leave..., The film was about to start.
11
→
how about
→
how
→
what about
→
what
→
just about
→
just
12 If someone is out and about, they are going out and doing things, especially after they have been unable to for a while.
out and about phrase usu PHR after v, also v-link PHR
Despite considerable pain she has been getting out and about almost as normal...
13 If someone is out and about, they are going to a lot of different places, often as part of their job.
out and about phrase usu PHR after v, also v-link PHR They often saw me out and about.
about-face (about-faces plural )An about-face is a complete change of attitude or opinion. n-count
(=U-turn, volte-face)
Few observers believe the president will do an about-face and start spending more.
about-turn (about-turns plural )An about-turn is the same as an about-face.
(BRIT) n-count
in AM, use about-face
