The difference between About and Approximately

When used as adverbs, about means on all sides, whereas approximately means imprecise but close to in quantity or amount.

About is also preposition with the meaning: in a circle around.

About is also adjective with the meaning: moving around.

check bellow for the other definitions of About and Approximately

  1. About as a preposition:

    In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.

  2. About as a preposition:

    Near; not far from; approximately; regarding time, size, quantity.

  3. About as a preposition:

    On the point or verge of.

    Examples:

    "the show is about to start; I am not about to admit to your crime"

  4. About as a preposition:

    On one's person; nearby the person.

  5. About as a preposition:

    Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

  6. About as a preposition:

    Concerned with; engaged in; intent on.

  7. About as a preposition:

    Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect.

    Examples:

    "He knew more about what was occurring than anyone."

  8. About as a preposition (figurative):

    In or near, as in mental faculties or in possession of; in control of; at one's command; in one's makeup.

    Examples:

    "He has his wits about him."

  9. About as a preposition:

    In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.

  1. About as an adverb:

    Not distant; approximate. On all sides; around. Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost. Near; in the vicinity.

    Examples:

    "'about as cold;  about as high"

  2. About as an adverb:

    In succession; one after another; in the course of events.

  3. About as an adverb:

    On the move; active; astir.

  4. About as an adverb (nautical):

    To a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view. To the opposite tack.

    Examples:

    "to face about;  to turn oneself about'"

  5. About as an adverb (obsolete):

    Preparing; planning.

  6. About as an adverb (archaic):

    In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; in circumference.

    Examples:

    "a mile about, and a third of a mile across"

  7. About as an adverb (chiefly, North America, colloquial):

    Going to; on the verge of; intending to.

  1. About as an adjective:

    Moving around; astir.

    Examples:

    "out and about;  up and about'"

    "After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again."

  2. About as an adjective:

    In existence; being in evidence; apparent

  1. Approximately as an adverb:

    Imprecise but close to in quantity or amount.

    Examples:

    "In every box of matches there are approximately 40 matchsticks."

    "Per 100g of chocolate there are approximately 11.6g of saturated fat."

    "...approximately 60 beats per minute."

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