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

When asked about his All-Star nod over the weekend, Joe Ryan focused on his team’s offense and the upcoming schedule instead of himself. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026

China, the world's top crude importer, has not been particularly enthusiastic about purchasing Iranian oil, despite traditionally being the main buyer of the country's energy. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 6 July 2026

Adverb

Taiwan's Ministry of Environment estimates the rule will eliminate more than 460 million single-use containers a year and will cut hotel plastic use by about 30 percent. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Stick the cuttings so the ends are about 3 inches deep in containers of potting soil or coarse vermiculite. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Adjective

Berman, who had long tried to minimize municipal interface, was about to enter his Room 101. — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 11 July 2026

The height and position of the ball toss, the rotation of the server’s trunk, the movement of their shoulder and forearm, the angle of the racket face and the speed of the swing all provide clues about what is about to happen. — Michelle Spear, Scientific American, 11 July 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