Phrase guide

be about

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To have (something) as a primary focus.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • What is this book about?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 是關於 /是关于 (shì guānyú) — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Dutch: gaan over — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Esperanto: temi — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Finnish: kertoa — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Finnish: käsitellä — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • French: s'agir de (e.g. "il s'agit de ...") — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • French: concerner — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • French: être au sujet de — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • German: gehen um — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • German: von ... sein — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • German: über ... sein — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Greek: αφορά (aforá) — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Polish: chodzić o — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Polish: być o — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Russian: быть о (bytʹ o) — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Russian: речь идёт о ... (rečʹ idjót o ...) — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Spanish: rondar — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Spanish: tratar de — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Spanish: tratarse sobre — to have (something) as a primary focus
  • Spanish: versar acerca de — to have (something) as a primary focus