1 C1 formal
To attempt or prepare to do something (archaic).
"He went about to explain his reasons, but no one would listen."
“
Why go ye about to kill me?
— King James Bible, John 7:19
inseparable
go about to
C1 formal inseparable transitive
An archaic or literary expression meaning to attempt or intend to do something; equivalent to 'be about to' in older English.
In plain English
To try to do something, or to be just about to do it (old-fashioned way of saying it).
What does "go about to" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To go about (set out) in order to (do something).
Actually means
To try to do something, or to be just about to do it (old-fashioned way of saying it).
Usage tip
This form is essentially obsolete in modern English. It appears in Early Modern English texts, including the King James Bible. ESL learners will encounter it in literary or historical reading but should not use it in everyday language.
Words that pair with "go about to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
do say prove show establish
How to conjugate "go about to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
go about to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
goes about to
he/she/it
Past simple
went about to
yesterday
Past participle
gone about to
have + pp
-ing form
going about to
continuous
Hear "go about to" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "go about to" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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