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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
Okay, maybe that’s a bit romanticized, but that’s what this trip is all about. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 The key themes now are romance, dating, children or fertility, expression or hobbies—so one of these could be taking steps forward, but also sending you mixed messages about where. — Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026
Adverb
The upper floor has roughly 11-foot ceilings, while the main level rises to about 14 feet, according to the listing information. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026 In Horizon West, located in the southwest corner of the county, Bay Lake Elementary School opened about 10 years ago. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The flare-up in the tensions between the former bandmates comes as Hagar is about to resume his Best of All Words residency at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026 The refinement is drawing mainstream luxury retailers such as Net-a-porter, which is about to launch the brand from fall 2026. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 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
  • Crow-Armstrong has gotten to know Williams a bit over the years with the Cubs great a regular presence around the team each spring training.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Venus in your partnership zone forms an awkward connection to Uranus in your finance sector, making differences around spending, security, or priorities harder to ignore.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of around
Preposition
  • The case sparked a nationwide discussion about motherhood and feminism throughout the summer.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Next, the researchers plan to do broader studies that can track exposure throughout pregnancy and examine whether the associations can be replicated across different populations.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of throughout
Adverb
  • For multi-generation families that want to stay together, Benton Cottage offers the perfect base, containing four bedrooms and bathrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, and enclosed back yard.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Bronwyn’s mother, Muzzy, who was lambasted all of last season for being cold and arguably cruel to her daughter, is notably softer in her first scene back — though the bob is as cunty as ever.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of back
Adverb
  • She is based in New York City and can almost always be found at a hot yoga class or on an evening Central Park walk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The service industry reached a level of convenience that still seems almost utopian.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of almost
Adverb
  • The country's population of adult citizens is approximately 248 million.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Shea ordered a portion of Baker’s federal sentence to be served consecutively to his state sentences, giving him a total effective federal sentence of approximately 222 months in prison.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of approximately
Adverb
  • But in his first flush of success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, his murallike tableaus of flowers, the cosmos and cartoonish figures -- all in vivid colors like turquoise, orange and neon green -- seemed to be everywhere.
    — BETH J. HARPAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Temperatures peak at 90 degrees in Orlando and Leesburg, while being in the high 80s everywhere else.
    — Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of everywhere
Adjective
  • Second Miami federal trial to start In South Florida, lawyers involved in the federal prosecution said they had not been made aware of Sunday’s transfer in advance.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Editors of other major newsrooms are well aware that Trump may try to ban their reporters next.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of aware

Phrases Containing about

Browse Nearby Words

abounds
about
about-face
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Cite this Entry

“About.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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