be about
Have as subject
Be about indicates subject matter or content—what something concerns or deals with: What's this movie about?
The book is about the Civil War.
With people, it can describe core values or priorities: I'm not about drama.
In the form be about to, it signals imminent action: We were about to leave when the phone rang.
Troubled interest in something
- involveTo contain as part
- deal withManage or address
- touch onMention without elaborating
- addressSpeak to formally
cover · encompass · center on · revolve around · focus on · treat · explore
Matter under discussion
- themeCentral recurring concept
- focusConcentrated attention point
- matterSpace-occupying substance with mass
- concernTroubled interest in something
content · storyline · plot · narrative · motif · genre · context · gist
Planned purpose for acting
mission · rationale · function · meaning · point · design · motivation · cause
Suitable for use now
- going toExpresses future intent
- on the vergeAt the edge of
- preparingMaking ready beforehand
- poisedCalm and controlled
set to · on the point of · getting ready · brink · threshold · cusp · impending
In approximate terms
- approximatelyClose but not exact
- nearlyAlmost but incomplete
- aroundIn the vicinity
- almostShort of completely
close to · circa · estimated · ballpark · thereabouts · give or take · more or less · approaching
concern
Troubled interest in something
address · cover · encompass · center on · revolve around · focus on · treat · explore
subject
Matter under discussion
- themeCentral recurring concept
- focusConcentrated attention point
- matterSpace-occupying substance with mass
concern · content · storyline · plot · narrative · motif · genre · context · gist · essence
intention
Planned purpose for acting
reason · mission · rationale · function · meaning · point · design · motivation · cause · end
ready
Suitable for use now
- going toExpresses future intent
- on the vergeAt the edge of
- preparingMaking ready beforehand
poised · set to · on the point of · getting ready · brink · threshold · cusp · impending
roughly
In approximate terms
- approximatelyClose but not exact
- nearlyAlmost but incomplete
- aroundIn the vicinity
almost · close to · circa · estimated · ballpark · thereabouts · give or take · more or less · approaching · nearing