Pronunciation

/əˈbaʊt/

Definitions

• Preposition: Indicating the subject matter or topic. For example: “The book is about history.”
• Adverb: Approximately; nearly. For example: “There were about fifty people at the event.”
• Adjective: (Informal) On the verge of (doing something). For example: “I’m about ready to leave.”

Phrases

• “About time”: Used to express that something is overdue or has taken longer than expected. For example: “It’s about time you showed up!”
• “All about”: Concerning every aspect of something. For example: “The seminar is all about digital marketing strategies.”
• “Know all about”: To be fully informed on a particular subject. For example: “She knows all about computers.”

Example Sentences

• Preposition: “We had a long discussion about the future of our company.”
• Adverb: “There were about a hundred guests at the wedding.”
• Adjective: “I’m about to start my presentation.”

Synonyms

• Concerning (as a preposition)
• Around (as an adverb for approximation)
• Nearly (as an adverb)
• On the brink of (informal, as an adjective)