Meaning

13 senses

  1. (not comparable)On all sides, or in every or any direction from a point; around.

    I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.

    вокру́гvokrúg

    навколоnavkolo

    all around or on all sides

  2. (not comparable)Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.

    Bits of old machinery were lying about.

    туда́-сюда́tudá-sjudá, взад-вперёдvzad-vperjód

  3. (not comparable)From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.

    walking about; rushing about; jumping about; thrashing about

  4. (not comparable)Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.

    messing about; fooling about; loafing about

  5. (not comparable)Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.

    It’s about as cold as it was last winter.

    He owes me about three hundred dollars.

    etwa, ungefähr

    приме́рноprimérno, приблизи́тельноpriblizítelʹno, о́колоókolo

    прибли́зноpryblýzno, бли́зькоblýzʹko, ко́лоkólo

  6. (not comparable)Near; in the vicinity.

    in the area or vicinity

  7. (not comparable)To a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction.

    to face about; to turn oneself about

    обра́тноobrátno

    in or to a reversed position or direction

  8. To a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction.

    (not comparable)To the opposite tack: see go about.

    We went about and headed offshore.

  9. (not comparable, obsolete, rare)In succession, one after another.

    подря́дpodrjád

    in rotation or succession

  10. (not comparable, obsolete, rare)In rotation or revolution.

  11. (not comparable, obsolete, possibly)In the course of events.

    to bring about, to come about

  12. (archaic, not comparable)In circuit or circumference; circularly.

    The island was a mile about, and a third of a mile across.

Examples

41863 sentences

  1. I'm very sorry about the mistake.

    Мені дуже шкода із-за помилки.

    ruЯ сожалею об этой ошибке.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · A2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  2. Something terrible is about to happen.

    Зараз трапиться щось жахливе.

    ruДолжно произойти что-то ужасное.

    deEtwas Schreckliches wird geschehen.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · A1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  3. The concert is about to start.

    Концерт скоро розпочнеться.

    ruКонцерт скоро начнется.

    deDas Konzert fängt gleich an.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · A1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  4. How about going to a movie?

    Якщо щодо того, щоб піти в кіно?

    ruКак насчёт того, чтобы сходить в кино?

    deWie wär's, wenn wir ins Kino gehen würden?

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · A1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  5. I know almost nothing about it.

    Я майже нічого не знаю про це.

    ruЯ почти ничего не знаю об этом.

    deIch weiß fast nichts darüber.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · A1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 2
on all sides:
nearly, approximately:
Русский
By meaning 5
on all sides:
here and there:
nearly, approximately:
to a reversed order, or opposite direction:
in succession; one after another:
Deutsch
By meaning 1
nearly, approximately:

Origin

Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūt

Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”) (compare modern English but, bout), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”); equivalent to on + be + out or on + but. Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”). Not related to bout (“period of time”)

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Synonyms

15 synonyms
many senses:aroundA2
Close in meaning

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
abortabortionaboundC1aboveA1
about — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto