a·bout / əˈbout/ • prep. 1. on the subject of; concerning: I was thinking about you. ∎  so as to affect: there's nothing we can do about it. ∎  (be about) be involved or to do with; have the intention of: it's all about having fun.2. used to indicate movement within a particular area: she looked about the room.3. used to express location in a particular place: rugs strewn about the hall. ∎  used to describe a quality apparent in a person: there was a look about her that said everything. • adv. 1. used to indicate movement in an area: men were floundering about.2. used to express location in a particular place: there was a lot of flu about.3. (used with a number or quantity) approximately: he's about 35.PHRASES: about to do something intending to do something or close to doing something very soon: the ceremony was about to begin.be not about to do something be unwilling to do something: he is not about to step down.how about see how¹ .just about see just.up and about see up.what about see what.

about adv. round, round the outside OE.; afoot, astir; †(with inf.) busy or engaged in XIII; going to XVI; prep. in corr. senses; (also) near, approximating to XII; concerning XIII. OE. onbūtan, abūtan, ME. abuten (XII–XIII), aboute; f. ON, A-1 + būtan outside (of); see BUT.