go about

British  

verb

1. (adverb) to move from place to place

2. (preposition) to busy oneself with

   to go about one's duties

3. (preposition) to tackle (a problem or task)

4. (preposition) to be actively and constantly engaged in (doing something)

   he went about doing good

5. to circulate (in)

   there's a lot of flu going about

6. (adverb) (of a sailing ship) to change from one tack to another

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go about Idioms  

1. Also, go around . Move here and there, to and fro; also, circulate. For example, She's been going about telling everyone the news , or A report went around that the dollar was dropping . [c. 1300]

2. Set about, undertake, as in I'm not sure how to go about making a pie . [Late 1600s]

3. go about one's business . Proceed with one's own proper occupation or concern. For example, Don't bother with that—just go about your business . [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

“It is really tough. You take some precautions. That’s the only way to go about it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

Encrypting and decrypting your traffic as you go about your online business incurs a cost, resulting in a speed hit on your connection.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

What we discovered through research is that we kind of go about it the wrong way.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

This is something the general public should know so that the proper precautions are taken, and we can limit transmission and go about our business.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

Plus, Agnes says the black streak is one of my chickens too—I just don’t know how to go about catching it yet.

From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones

Related Words

• set about