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.
A new superpower is about to enter the fray, one that is unknowable and unending and potentially dwarfs the U.S. and China individually or collectively.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
With his music career taking off and a debut album about to be released, the lawsuit alleges, Burke was making millions of dollars and had a reason to silence the teenager.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
A fully-fledged tourist city, Vlore is also about to get its own dedicated airport.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
The ballroom is about to get a serious dose of star power.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
I pointed and was about to speak when the bird opened its bright wings and took off from the perch.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
