go about

verb

1. (adverb) to move from place to place

2. (preposition) to busy oneself with

   to go about one's duties

3. (preposition) to tackle (a problem or task)

4. (preposition) to be actively and constantly engaged in (doing something)

   he went about doing good

5. to circulate (in)

   there's a lot of flu going about

6. (adverb) (of a sailing ship) to change from one tack to another

Idioms and Phrases

Also, go around . Move here and there, to and fro; also, circulate. For example, She's been going about telling everyone the news , or A report went around that the dollar was dropping . [c. 1300]

Set about, undertake, as in I'm not sure how to go about making a pie . [Late 1600s]

go about one's business . Proceed with one's own proper occupation or concern. For example, Don't bother with that—just go about your business . [Late 1600s]

Example Sentences

That is the result of the carceral state, whereby ICE and the National Guard prowl the streets, creeping out normal people going about their business.

From Salon

“We are disturbed by what can only be described as an act of terror and indiscriminate roundup of Latino street vendors, day laborers, and people who were going about their daily lives,” the organization stated.

From Los Angeles Times

This is all a huge departure from government norms, and the mechanics might seem confusing to people who are going about their everyday lives and only casually follow the news coming out of Washington, D.C.

From Salon

In the morning rush hour, the traffic along the Dnipro river embankment is heavy and slow-moving as people try to get to work and go about their daily lives.

From BBC

If those nine go about their lives in public spaces, numbers multiply exponentially.

From Salon

Related Words

• set about