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Synonyms

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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]


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.

See Examples For:

But experts note that there are right and wrong ways to go about the routine, which may not be for everyone.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 11, 2026

During the expedition, the participants go about their tasks diligently.

From Barron's Sep. 10, 2026

Making Shakespeare’s plays accessible is a noble goal, but there are other ways to go about this beyond modernizing the text and diluting its lyrical beauty and nuance.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 5, 2026

"It's about taking time and reflecting on how you might go about making a change."

From BBC Aug. 31, 2026

The children continued to discuss how to best go about returning to their old habits, and pondered the ethical dilemmas that might pop up.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

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