go about
Britishverb
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(adverb) to move from place to place
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(preposition) to busy oneself with
to go about one's duties
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(preposition) to tackle (a problem or task)
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(preposition) to be actively and constantly engaged in (doing something)
he went about doing good
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to circulate (in)
there's a lot of flu going about
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(adverb) (of a sailing ship) to change from one tack to another
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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]
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Set about, undertake, as in I'm not sure how to go about making a pie . [Late 1600s]
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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.
So we asked workplace performance expert Henna Pryor how workers can go about making sure they have more of the intangibles that could be required to stand out in the AI era.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026
"We do not believe the payment of tolls is the right way to go about this," said Phillip Belcher, from Intertanko, a group representing tanker firms.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
Instead, Pegula tends to go about her business quietly, relying on a calm temperament and a methodical style that wears opponents down over time.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
There is a continuing debate in the U.S. about how to go about building infrastructure.
From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026
Though I didn’t know how I'd go about doing that, actually.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
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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.