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Almost vs. About — What's the Difference?

Almost vs. About — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Almost and About

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Almost

In set theory, when dealing with sets of infinite size, the term almost or nearly is used to refer to all but a negligible amount of elements in the set. The notion of "negligible" depends in the context, and may mean "of measure zero" (in a measure space), "countable" (when uncountably infinite sets are involved), or "finite" (when infinite sets are involved).For example: The set S = { n ∈ N | n ≥ k } {\displaystyle S=\{n\in \mathbb {N} \,|\,n\geq k\}} is almost N {\displaystyle \mathbb {N} } for any k {\displaystyle k} in N {\displaystyle \mathbb {N} } , because only finitely many natural numbers are less than k {\displaystyle k} .

About

On the subject of; concerning
It's all about having fun
I was thinking about you
A book about ancient Greece

Almost

Not quite; very nearly
He almost knocked Georgina over
The place was almost empty
Blues, jazz—he can play almost anything

About

Used to indicate movement within a particular area
She looked about the room

Almost

Slightly short of; not quite; nearly
Almost time to go.
Was almost asleep.
Had almost finished. See Usage Note at none.
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About

Used to express location in a particular place
Rugs were strewn about the hall
He produced a knife from somewhere about his person

Almost

Very close to, but not quite.

About

Used to indicate movement within an area
Men were floundering about
Finding my way about

Almost

(mathematics) Up to, except for a negligible set where negligible is not universally but contextually defined.
Almost all
Almost no

About

Used to express location in a particular place
There was a lot of flu about

Almost

A null set; except for a set of measure 0.
Almost everywhere
Almost nowhere
Almost certain
Almost sure

About

(used with a number or quantity) approximately
He's about 35
Reduced by about 5 per cent

Almost

(informal) Something or someone that doesn't quite make it.
In all the submissions, they found four papers that were clearly worth publishing and another dozen almosts.

About

Approximately; nearly
The interview lasted about an hour.

Almost

Nearly; well nigh; all but; for the greatest part.
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

About

Almost
The job is about done.

Almost

(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

About

To a reversed position or direction
Turn about and walk away slowly.

About

In no particular direction
Wandering about with no place to go.

About

All around; on every side
Let's look about for help.

About

In the area or vicinity; near
Spoke to a few spectators standing about.

About

In succession; one after another
Turn about is fair play.

About

On the verge of doing something; presently going to do something. Used with the infinitive
The chorus is about to sing.

About

Usage Problem Used to show determination or intention in negative constructions with an infinitive
I am not about to concede the point.

About

On all sides of; surrounding
I found an English garden all about me.

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

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