# about

> English word · Preposition · IPA /əˈbaʊt/ · frequency rank #43

## Definitions
1. In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.
2. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
3. Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
4. Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
5. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of.
6. Concerned or occupied with; engaged in; intent on.
7. Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.
8. On one’s person; nearby the person.
9. On or near (one's person); attached as an attribute to; in the makeup of, or at the command of.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *ana-
Proto-West Germanic *ana-
Old English on-?
Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁epsder.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁epider.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi
Proto-Germanic *bi
Proto-West Germanic *bī
Proto-West Germanic *bi-
Proto-Indo-European *úd
Proto-Germanic *ūt
Proto-West Germanic *ūtō
Proto-West Germanic *ūtan
Proto-West Germanic *biūtan
Old English būtan
Old English onbūtan
Middle English aboute
English about
Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”). Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”).
Adjective from Middle English about (adverb).

## Easily confused with
- **Abu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-abu)
- **alot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-alot)
- **above** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-above)
- **adopt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-adopt)
- **aloud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-aloud)
- **aloft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-aloft)
- **amour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-amour)
- **afoot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-afoot)
- **afoul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-afoul)
- **amount** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-amount)
- **abrupt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-abrupt)
- **abo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abo-vs-about)
- **Abdul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abdul-vs-about)
- **abbot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbot-vs-about)
- **abort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abort-vs-about)
- **abode** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abode-vs-about)
- **Abbott** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abbott-vs-about)
- **abound** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abound-vs-about)
- **abduct** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abduct-vs-about)

## Common misspellings (6)
`abbout`, `abotu`, `aboutt`, `abuot`, `aobut`, `baout`

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