about

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adverb

Definition of ABOUT

1

on all sides or in every direction <people standing about waiting for a salesclerk to assist them>

Synonyms about, round

Related Words all over, everyplace, everywhere; abroad, afloat, hereabouts (or hereabout)

2

toward the opposite direction <turned about and saw the dog following him>

Synonyms about, back, backward (or backwards), round

Related Words behind, down, downward (or downwards), rearward (also rearwards); obversely, reversely; across, athwart, counter, counterclockwise, widdershins (also withershins)

Near Antonyms clockwise, deasil

3

very close to but not completely <about as many women as men signed up for the course in auto repair>

Synonyms about, all but, borderline, fair [chiefly British], fairly, feckly [chiefly Scottish], more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh

Related Words appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly; kind of, partially, partly, somewhat

Near Antonyms absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, thoroughly; totally, utterly, well, wholly; barely, hardly, scarcely

4

close to but not exactly <it's about a mile to the nearest gas station>

Synonyms about, around, like, more or less, much, near, plus or minus, roughly, say, some

Related Words generally, kind of, loosely; nearly, nominally, practically, virtually, well-nigh

Near Antonyms due, even, just, sharp, smack-dab, squarely

Antonyms exactly, precisely

5

in one place and another <his garage was a dirty, cluttered place with various tools and engine parts just lying about>

Synonyms about, around, passim

Related Words all over, everyplace, everywhere, far and wide, high and low, right and left, throughout, ubiquitously

Near Antonyms nowhere