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.
However, some market players fret that all of this momentum could be an AI bubble that is about to burst.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Are Cartier Love bracelets about to replace the Hermès RMS -0.24%decrease; red down pointing triangle Birkin bag as the product that drives the best shareholder returns in the luxury-goods industry?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Before displaying each graphic image, prosecutor Beth Silverman repeatedly turned to Celeste's parents, warning them about what they were about to see and checking whether they wanted to look away.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Leigh estimates they’ve spent about $17,000 so far and are about to spend another $15,000 on Meta advertising.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
I’m about to call for Dad when Bubbe grips my arm even more tightly.
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.
