# about vs adopt

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### about
*preposition · IPA /əˈbaʊt/ · frequency rank #43*
In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.

### adopt
*verb · IPA /əˈdɒpt/ · frequency rank #5,182*
To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-adopt