Synonyms of about

about 1 of 3

preposition

1

as in regarding

having to do with

a poignant story about a young man who goes off to war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• regarding
• concerning
• on
• toward
• of
• with regard to
• respecting
• with respect to
• in regard to
• touching
• as for
• as regards
• in view of
• in respect to
• as to
• as far as
• apropos
• apropos of
• over

2

as in around

close to

about the hedge there was a picket fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• around
• near
• beside
• by
• at
• next door to
• along
• across
• next to
• toward
• nigh
• alongside
• circa

3

as in throughout

in random positions within the boundaries of

sparrows hopping about the lawn near the bird feeder

Synonyms & Similar Words

• around
• throughout
• over
• across
• on
• through
• round

about

2 of 3

adverb

ə-ˈbau̇t 

1

as in round

on all sides or in every direction

people standing about waiting for a salesclerk to assist them

Synonyms & Similar Words

• around
• round
• everywhere
• all over
• abroad
• hereabouts
• everyplace
• afloat

2

as in back

toward the opposite direction

turned about and saw the dog following him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• around
• back
• down
• backward
• round
• behind
• downward
• across
• rearward
• counter
• reversely
• counterclockwise
• athwart
• obversely
• widdershins

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clockwise
• deasil

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

• almost
• nearly
• practically
• most
• just about
• fairly
• virtually
• somewhere
• pretty much
• much
• next to
• mostly
• within an inch of
• more or less
• near
• fair
• all but
• feckly
• well-nigh
• as good as
• mainly
• nigh
• borderline
• largely
• chiefly
• somewhat
• partly
• partially
• appreciably
• by and large
• kind of

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quite
• entirely
• fully
• completely
• thoroughly
• absolutely
• altogether
• well
• totally
• wholly
• plain
• utterly
• barely
• plumb
• hardly
• scarcely

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

• approximately
• roughly
• around
• say
• some
• much
• like
• nearly
• somewhere about
• after a fashion
• somewhere around
• near
• plus or minus
• more or less
• generally
• practically
• loosely
• virtually
• nominally
• kind of
• well-nigh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exactly
• precisely
• even
• just
• due
• sharp
• squarely
• smack-dab

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

• everywhere
• around
• here and there
• throughout
• high and low
• all over
• right and left
• far and wide
• passim
• ubiquitously
• everyplace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nowhere

about

3 of 3

adjective

as in aware

Related Words

• aware
• up
• astir
• aroused
• conscious
• roused
• awakened
• sleepless
• wakened
• awake
• wakeful
• revived
• rousted
• insomniac
• wide-awake
• reawakened

Dissimilar Words

• sleeping
• resting
• dormant
• dreaming
• asleep
• nodding
• sleepy
• unawakened
• drowsy
• somnolent
• slumbering
• napping
• dozing
• slumberous
• dozy
• hypnotized
• mesmerized

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of about

Preposition

Hearings revealed engineers had raised concerns about the dangers of cold weather on the O-rings, but management ignored the warnings. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

There’s something ineffably touching about the effect on Mi-ok of being around the wealthy couple. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026

Adverb

The epicenter was about 14 miles west of Petrolia, at a depth of 18 miles. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026

The latest incident occurred Sunday night outside a police station in Ojocaliente, a town in the north-central state of Zacatecas, about 360 miles (580 km) northwest of Mexico City. — María Verza, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Key dates this month Venus is about to blaze at peak brilliance, but this farewell performance comes with a challenge. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026

This hubbub somehow awakens the mysterious powers of the titular compass, transporting the twosome to ‘Golden City’ in China, modeled after the Forbidden City, where a storyline based on Chinese mythology is about to get going. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing about

• beat about the bush
• bring about
• cast about (for)
• come about
• get about
• hang about
• just about
• set about
• somewhere about