about 1 of 3

preposition

Definition of aboutnext
1
as in regarding
having to do with a poignant story about a young man who goes off to war

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in around
close to about the hedge there was a picket fence

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in throughout
in random positions within the boundaries of sparrows hopping about the lawn near the bird feeder

Synonyms & Similar Words

about

2 of 3

adverb

ə-ˈbau̇t How to pronounce about (audio)
1
as in round
on all sides or in every direction people standing about waiting for a salesclerk to assist them

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in back
toward the opposite direction turned about and saw the dog following him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in almost
very close to but not completely about as many attendees as last year signed up for the conference

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in approximately
close to but not exactly it's about a mile to the nearest gas station we're about ready to get started

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in everywhere
in one place and another his garage was a dirty, cluttered place with various tools and engine parts just lying about

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

about

3 of 3

adjective

as in aware

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of about
Preposition
Sanders, who spoke alongside el Sayed in Grand Rapids, said Trump’s attacks on the Democratic candidate were rooted in Islamophobia because Republicans have little to say about the issues affecting working families. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026 During his interview, Johnson spoke candidly about his rise to fame and the years of work behind his success. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Adverb
About 76% of Union County residents reported high well-being, compared with about 61% in Gaston County, according to findings presented this month by the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute as part of its State of Our Region research. — Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026 Joeys will leave the pouch at about 235 days old, but will continue to nurse until about 1-year-old, sometimes longer. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Things are about to get more difficult for the Georgia Bulldogs from a schedule standpoint. — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Under a recent settlement that Meta recently reached with states, Facebook and Instagram are about to look different for minors Among the new protections, one seemingly modest change caught my eye. — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for about
Recent Examples of Synonyms for about
  1. regarding
  2. around
  3. throughout
  4. back
  5. almost
  6. approximately
  7. everywhere
  8. aware
Preposition
  • Metro Police detectives are continuing to investigate the shooting, and are in contact with the District Attorney’s Office regarding charging decisions.
    — Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Was any decision made regarding reducing Partey’s media obligations?
    — James McNicholas, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Definition of regarding
Preposition
  • Infection signs around the nose, mouth, ears, eyes or genital areas also warrant attention, the agency added.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Canada doubled down on its historic 24-21 win in Toronto last week with sustained defensive pressure and a withering three-try burst in nine minutes around the hour mark.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of around
Preposition
  • Multiple flying insects throughout entire food service space.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • She had been connected to a major transnational drug trafficking network active along the southern Arizona border throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of throughout
Adverb
  • Nebraska native Sydney Loofe was looking for love, or at least for some fun, while scrolling through Tinder back in 2017.
    — Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The drums are constantly switching, the gait galloping one way and then swerving back again, as if the music could go anywhere.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of back
Adverb
  • Defense lawyer Lawrence Obonyo, who represents Mackenzie and almost all of the others convicted, said he had been instructed to appeal.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • From a dozen seats to 20,000 sign-ups Growth has come almost entirely from social media.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of almost
Adverb
  • The chart shared by NASA showed Orion docking with the Blue Moon lander in an elliptical lunar orbit, approximately 8,500 km above the Moon’s surface.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Even as the sense of a hazy disturbance in the force lingers, Burkholder’s approximately three-minute statement at least demystified some of the curious situation.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of approximately
Adverb
  • While parts of the Southwest are rocky with little vegetation and are naturally prone to flash flooding, the recent rains made flooding everywhere more likely.
    — MEAD GRUVER, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Inside, a large stone fireplace connects an open-plan living area and dining room; there’s wood paneling everywhere, and more than one piece of rustic log furniture to really cement that cabin feel.
    — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of everywhere
Adjective
  • And many consumers are keenly aware of investors behind businesses.
    — Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Sühlmann had plenty of experience designing mid-engine supercars, though, something Leiters, who arrived at Porsche just a few months before him, would have been aware of.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of aware

Phrases Containing about

Browse Nearby Words

abounds
about
about-face
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“About.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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