about to

1. Ready to, on the verge of, as in I was about to leave when it began to rain , or He hasn't finished yet but he's about to . This usage was first recorded in Miles Coverdale's 1535 translation of the Bible (Joshua 18:8).

2. not about to . Having no intention of doing something, as in The shop steward was not about to cross the picket line , or Are you staying longer?—No, I'm not about to . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Vice President-elect JD Vance revealed in a since-deleted post on X that he and President-elect Donald Trump are interviewing candidates for FBI director, which all but confirms that the current director, Christopher Wray, an appointee from Trump's first term in office, is about to get fired.

From Salon

But the cost of living crisis might be about to hit harder than ever.

From BBC

“What you’re about to see tonight, I want you to remember because I think it will resonate and feel so relevant to you ... and reflect the lives you’re living and the world you live in,” Platt said from the stage.

From Los Angeles Times

In the crypto community, this means someone believes the price of the coin is about to shoot up.

From BBC

“So we were about to be filming a moment. And she didn’t know that she was supposed to start. I told her, ‘They don’t say “action.”

From Los Angeles Times