Be About To – Meaning and Examples

Have you ever been just seconds away from leaving the house when the phone rings? Or watched a pot of water start bubbling the moment you turned your back? In English, you’d say you were about to leave—or the water was about to boil! This useful phrase describes something that is going to happen immediately or very soon—often within seconds or minutes.

What Does “Be About To” Mean?

“Be about to” means that an action is on the verge of happening—it hasn’t started yet, but it will happen almost immediately. Think of it like standing at the edge of a diving board: you haven’t jumped, but you’re ready to. The phrase always refers to the **very near future**, not general plans or distant events.

When to Use It

Use this phrase in casual or neutral conversations when describing actions that are literally seconds or minutes away. It’s common in daily life, movies, urgent updates, or real-time storytelling (“I was about to call you!”). This phrase works in both spoken and written English—but only for **imminent** actions.

Example Sentences

• I was about to text you when your message came through!
• Be quiet—the show is about to start.
• She’s about to give her final presentation after months of work.
• Watch out! That glass is about to fall!

Mini Dialogue

Alex: “Did you send the report?”

Jamie: “I’m about to! Just hitting ‘send’ now.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t use “be about to” for events that are hours, days, or weeks away. It only applies to actions that are **imminent**—not just “soon” in a general sense.

❌ Don’t say: “I’m about to go on vacation next month.” (Too far in the future!)
✅ Do say: “I’m about to step into the shower.” (Happening right now!)

Final Note

Now you can use “be about to” to describe the immediate future with perfect timing! It’s a small phrase that packs a big sense of urgency and readiness. Keep using it—and remember, in English, “be about to” means it’s almost happening… right now!