Skip to main content

(a)round and about

Circular movement, etc: (a)round​

We use both round and around (AmE usually around) for movement or position in a circle or a curve.

  • She walked (a)round the car and looked at the wheels.
  • I’d like to travel (a)round the world.
  • ‘Where do you live?’ ‘Just (a)round the corner.’

Touring, distribution: round​

We also use round or around (AmE usually around) to talk about going to all (or most) parts of a place, or giving things to everybody in a group.

  • We walked (a)round the old part of the town.
  • Can I look (a)round?
  • Could you pass the cups (a)round, please?

Indefinite movement and position​

We use around or about (AmE usually around) to refer to movements or positions that are not very clear or definite: ‘here and there’, ‘in lots of places’, ‘in different parts of’, ‘somewhere in’ and similar ideas.

  • The children were running around/about everywhere.
  • Stop standing around/about and do some work.
  • ‘Where’s Jack?’ ‘Somewhere around/about.’
  • I like doing odd jobs around/about the house.

We also use these words in some common expressions to talk about time-wasting or silly activity.

  • Stop fooling around/about. We’re late.

Approximately​

About and around can both mean ‘approximately’, ‘not exactly’. About is more common than around in British English.

  • There were about/around fifty people there.
  • ‘What time shall I come?’ ‘About/Around eight.’
note

For other uses of these words, see a good dictionary.