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

Investigators have not released details about what led up to the shooting or the relationship, if any, between Pollard and the victim. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE at the premiere on Sunday, Hathaway opened up about how pregnancy feels different this time around in her 40s. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026

Adverb

Add onion, bell pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026

Adolescents biologically need about nine hours a night, but many parents report their kids logging only six to seven hours on school nights, and researchers are increasingly pointing to late-evening phone use as a driver. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Di Cenzo received her metastatic diagnosis just as her husband was about to experience his first cancer crisis alongside her. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Aug. 2026

The recommendations would upend decades of federal guidance on which vaccines are administered to children, just as the school year is about to begin in many states. — Richard Escobedo, CBS News, 10 Aug. 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