about to
Idioms-
Ready to, on the verge of, as in I was about to leave when it began to rain , or He hasn't finished yet but he's about to . This usage was first recorded in Miles Coverdale's 1535 translation of the Bible (Joshua 18:8).
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not about to . Having no intention of doing something, as in The shop steward was not about to cross the picket line , or Are you staying longer?—No, I'm not about to . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Karim Fawaz, executive director at S&P Global Energy, warned in the analysis that “Inventories are low, spare refining capacity is scarce, and seasonal demand is about to strengthen at exactly the wrong moment.”
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
You’d want to underweight stocks so long as you believe interest rates will continue rising, but overweight them once you think that a rate-cut cycle is about to begin.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
But “The Spiral” also suggests that, as in America, a new wave of global horror is just about to bubble over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
All around the city, the posters proclaim, “Our New Era Starts Now,” with a determined-looking Gustavo Dudamel in profile, baton raised, about to nail some unheard climax.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
I’m about to spout off until an echo of Gramma Liz’s raspy voice reminds me to take it easy on my cousin.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
