About vs. Bout — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 18, 2024
"About" is a preposition or adverb dealing with location, direction, or subject matter, while "bout" is a noun referring to a short period or contest.
Difference Between About and Bout
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Key Differences
"About" is used to indicate location ("The book is about the house."), direction ("He looked about the room."), approximation ("About 100 people attended."), or subject matter ("We talked about the weather."). It is versatile in its application, serving various grammatical functions. "Bout", on the other hand, signifies a short duration or a contest, such as a bout of illness or a boxing bout. It is specific in its usage, primarily relating to events or episodes characterized by their intensity or competitive nature.
While "about" is broadly applicable in numerous contexts to convey relational information, "bout" is narrowly focused, typically used to describe a short, intense period of something or a competitive event.
The distinction is clear in their application: "about" is functional, serving to connect and relate information, whereas "bout" is descriptive, highlighting the nature or occurrence of an event.
Despite their phonetic similarity, especially in certain accents or dialects, their meanings and uses are distinct, with "about" functioning in a wide array of contexts and "bout" being confined to specific instances of events or periods.
Comparison Chart
Function
Preposition or adverb.
Noun.
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Meaning
Relates to location, direction, approximation, or subject matter.
Refers to a short period or contest.
Usage
Versatile, used in various grammatical constructions.
Specific, primarily describing events or episodes.
Contexts
Broad, applicable in numerous scenarios.
Narrow, focusing on intensity or competitiveness of events.
Examples
"What is this book about?", "He walked about the room."
"She had a bout of flu.", "The boxing bout was intense."
Compare with Definitions
About
Indicating the vicinity of something.
The cafe is just about the corner.
Bout
A short period of sickness.
He recovered from a brief bout of cold.
About
Indicating an estimate.
There were about fifty people at the party.
Bout
An intense period of trying.
She went through a tough bout of studying for exams.
About
Concerning movement in an area.
He looked about the room for his keys.
Bout
A match or competition.
The championship bout drew a large crowd.
About
Relating to the topic of discussion.
We need to talk about your performance.
Bout
A period of intense activity.
The artist had a productive bout of creativity.
About
Describing a state or condition.
She is about to leave.
Bout
A short, intense period of an emotion.
He felt a bout of sadness hearing the news.
About
On the subject of; concerning
It's all about having fun
I was thinking about you
A book about ancient Greece
Bout
A contest between antagonists; a match
A wrestling bout.
About
Used to indicate movement within a particular area
She looked about the room
Bout
A period of time spent in a particular way; a spell
"His tremendous bouts of drinking had wrecked his health" (Thomas Wolfe).
About
Used to express location in a particular place
Rugs were strewn about the hall
He produced a knife from somewhere about his person
Bout
A period of something, especially one painful or unpleasant.
A bout of drought.
About
Used to indicate movement within an area
Men were floundering about
Finding my way about
Bout
(boxing) A boxing match.
About
Used to express location in a particular place
There was a lot of flu about
Bout
(fencing) An assault (a fencing encounter) at which the score is kept.
About
(used with a number or quantity) approximately
He's about 35
Reduced by about 5 per cent
Bout
(roller derby) A roller derby match.
About
Approximately; nearly
The interview lasted about an hour.
Bout
A fighting competition.
About
Almost
The job is about done.
Bout
(music) A bulge or widening in a musical instrument, such as either of the two characteristic bulges of a guitar.
About
To a reversed position or direction
Turn about and walk away slowly.
Bout
(dated) The going and returning of a plough, or other implement used to mark the ground and create a headland, across a field.
About
In no particular direction
Wandering about with no place to go.
Bout
To contest a bout.
About
All around; on every side
Let's look about for help.
Bout
(colloquial) about
They're talking bout you!
Maddy is bout to get beat up!
About
In the area or vicinity; near
Spoke to a few spectators standing about.
Bout
As much of an action as is performed at one time; a going and returning, as of workmen in reaping, mowing, etc.; a turn; a round.
In notes with many a winding boutOf linked sweetness long drawn out.
The prince . . . has taken me in his train, so that I am in no danger of starving for this bout.
About
In succession; one after another
Turn about is fair play.
Bout
A conflict; contest; attempt; trial; a set-to at anything; as, a fencing bout; a drinking bout.
The gentleman will, for his honor's sake, have one bout with you; he can not by the duello avoid it.
About
On the verge of doing something; presently going to do something. Used with the infinitive
The chorus is about to sing.
Bout
(sports) a period of play during which one team is on the offensive
About
Usage Problem Used to show determination or intention in negative constructions with an infinitive
I am not about to concede the point.
Bout
A boxing match;
The fight was on television last night
About
On all sides of; surrounding
I found an English garden all about me.
Bout
An occasion for excessive eating or drinking;
They went on a bust that lasted three days
About
In the vicinity of; around
Explored the rivers and streams about the estate.
About
Almost the same as; close to; near.
About
In reference to; relating to; concerned with
A book about snakes.
About
In the act or process of
While you're about it, please clean your room.
About
In the possession or innate character of
Keep your wits about you.
About
Moving here and there; astir
The patient is up and about.
About
Being in evidence or existence
Rumors are about concerning his resignation.
About
In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.
The snake was coiled about his ankle.
About
Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
Rubbish was strewn about the place.
The children were running about the room.
He was well known about town.
About
Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
About
(with 'to' and verb infinitive) See about to.
About
On the point or verge of.
About
Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect.
He talked a lot about his childhood.
We must do something about this problem.
About
Concerned with; engaged in; intent on.
To be about one's business
About
Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.
I can't find my reading glasses, but they must be somewhere about the house.
John's in the garden, probably somewhere about the woodshed.
About
On one's person; nearby the person.
I had no weapon about me but a stick.
About
(figurative) In or near, as in mental faculties or (literally) in the possession of; under the control of; at one's command; in one's makeup.
He has his wits about him.
There was an air of confidence about the woman.
About
On all sides; around.
I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.
About
Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.
Bits of old machinery were lying about.
About
From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.
Walking about;
Rushing about;
Jumping about;
Thrashing about
About
Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.
Messing about;
Fooling about;
Loafing about
About
Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.
It's about as cold as it was last winter.
He owes me about three hundred dollars.
Dinner's about ready.
I was so scared, I about fainted.
About
Near; in the vicinity.
About
To a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view.
To face about;
To turn oneself about
About
(nautical) To the opposite tack: see go about.
We went about and headed offshore.
About
In succession; one after another; in the course of events.
About
(archaic) In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; in circumference.
A mile about, and a third of a mile across
About
Moving around; astir.
Out and about;
Up and about
After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.
About
In existence; being in evidence; apparent.
This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable.
About
Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood.
I had my keys just a minute ago, so they must be about somewhere.
Watch out, there's a thief about.
About
Around; all round; on every side of.
About
In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).
About
Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
Roving still about the world.
About
Near; not far from; - determining approximately time, size, quantity.
He went out about the third hour.
About
In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
I must be about my Father's business.
About
On the point or verge of; going; in act of.
Paul was now aboutto open his mouth.
About
Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.
She must have her way about Sarah.
About
On all sides; around.
'Tis time to look about.
About
In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
About
Here and there; around; in one place and another.
Wandering about from house to house.
About
Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; - also of quantity, number, time.
About
To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about.
About
On the move;
Up and about
The whole town was astir over the incident
About
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct;
Lasted approximately an hour
In just about a minute
He's about 30 years old
I've had about all I can stand
We meet about once a month
Some forty people came
Weighs around a hundred pounds
Roughly $3,000
Holds 3 gallons, more or less
20 or so people were at the party
About
All around or on all sides;
Dirty clothes lying around (or about)
Let's look about for help
There were trees growing all around
She looked around her
About
In the area or vicinity;
A few spectators standing about
Hanging around
Waited around for the next flight
About
To or among many different places or in no particular direction;
Wandering about with no place to go
People were rushing about
News gets around (or about)
Traveled around in Asia
He needs advice from someone who's been around
She sleeps around
About
In or to a reversed position or direction;
About face
Brought the ship about
Suddenly she turned around
About
In rotation or succession;
Turn about is fair play
About
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost';
The job is (just) about done
The baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded
We're almost finished
The car all but ran her down
He nearly fainted
Talked for nigh onto 2 hours
The recording is well-nigh perfect
Virtually all the parties signed the contract
I was near exhausted by the run
Most everyone agrees
Common Curiosities
Is "bout" always related to negative events?
Not necessarily. While often associated with illness or struggle, "bout" can also refer to sporting contests or productive periods.
Can "about" and "bout" be used interchangeably?
No, due to their different meanings and grammatical functions, they cannot be used interchangeably.
Can "about" serve as other parts of speech?
Yes, "about" can function as a preposition, adverb, and in some cases, an adjective.
Does "bout" have any other meanings in different contexts?
In specific dialects or colloquial use, "bout" might have other meanings, but its primary use is as described.
Is "bout" used in formal writing?
"Bout" can be used in formal writing but is more commonly found in informal or conversational contexts.
Are there any common phrases or idioms using "bout"?
Phrases like "a bout of laughter" or "a bout of creativity" are common, highlighting temporary, intense periods.
How can I remember the difference between "about" and "bout"?
Associate "about" with relationships (location, subject, direction) and "bout" with short, distinct periods or events.
Can "about" indicate time as well as location?
Yes, "about" can indicate an approximate time, such as "about noon."
How does the usage of "about" vary in different English-speaking regions?
The usage of "about" is fairly consistent across English-speaking regions, though idiomatic expressions might vary.
Are there any synonyms for "bout" that convey a similar meaning?
Synonyms for "bout" include "spell," "period," "session," or "round," depending on the context.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
