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about

about

6.4
Active and moving around after being ill or inactive
  • adjective
  • /əˈbaʊt/
translation icon : en pie
  • And Hannah Lovina Hurlburt McBride was not about to be bested in the competition.

Examples

  • After being injured, the athlete was finally about to return to the field and join his teammates.

  • The puppy was about to explore the yard for the first time, eager to see what was out there.

  • I was about to call up to your farm to welcome you into our little community.

  • There are 200 guests about to show up at the Four Seasons, all right?

  • I'm about to become a priest.

  • No, Mama, I'm in Mexico, and we're about to get on an airplane to Argentina!

    Fiction book (1990)
  • We have something unique, and I'm not about to let you throw it away in your ignorance.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Our armed forces are not about to be confined wholly to our own shores.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Once the rain stopped, the children were about to run outside and play in the sunshine.

Synonyms

astir
vsabout
  • Literature
7.5

Busy and moving about because people are active

is active after a period of confinement without emotional emphasis
ambulant
vsabout
  • Specialized
7.9

Able to walk and not kept in bed after an illness or injury

is active after being confined rather than only able to walk
perambulatory
vsabout
  • Archaic
9.9

Someone who walks around often

is active after confinement rather than describing manner of movement

Antonyms

4 2.3

Not moving and not showing much physical or mental energy

Idioms

3.0

Completely focused on one main subject or purpose

378 2.2

To know many things about a subject

about time
  • Informal
60 4.9

Say this when something happens later than it should

Almost anything you can think of, with only a few exceptions

42 3.5

Very excited about someone or something you like a lot

An idea or problem that needs careful thought

10 3.9

Openly say strong opinions or feelings about something

8 3.0

Close to crying because you feel sad

Say something openly and directly without hiding it

5 7.5

A lot of fuss about something unimportant

3 8.3

To show that something is certain or clear

picky about
  • Informal
3 6.8

Careful about choosing things like clothes or food and hard to please

to about-face
  • Literature
3 6.7

To change your opinion or position completely and suddenly

along about
  • Informal
1 6.3

At about that time

hyped about
  • Slang
1 7.9

Excited and eager about something new, like a game or event

1 9.7

Have almost no idea about something

1 7.3

To be good or special enough to tell people at home about

1 9.9

To leave and say you have private matters without giving details

Being very picky about small details when choosing or arranging things

8.8

Looking pale and sick, often feeling like you will vomit

To stay alert and think quickly in difficult or unexpected situations

Not very good or special

Feel so amused that you fall over and move on the floor

9.9

Choosy about small details and what they accept

People say it when something seems typical of white people and shows white privilege

Compounds

about-face
  • Literature
5 7.3

A sudden, complete change of direction or opinion

A man who often goes to restaurants, parties, and the theater for fun

about turn
  • Jargon
1 5.8

A complete change of direction or opinion, often sudden

How Mobile

energetic
93 1.6
active
8 5.6
about
6.4
inactive
4 2.3
bedridden
11 4.5

Surface Forms

about positive

Etymology

About comes from old English parts a- 'on' and butan 'outside', so it originally meant being 'around' and active; that's why someone who is up and moving again is described as being about.