Hereabouts

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hereabouts

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adverb

Pronunciation

HEER-uh-bowts  /ˌhɪərəˈbaʊts/

Definition

In this vicinity; somewhere near here; in or around this area or location. Used to indicate that something is located in the general vicinity of the speaker's current position.

Plain meaning

Hereabouts means around here, somewhere in this area. If someone asks where the shop is and you say it's hereabouts somewhere, you mean it's nearby but you can't pinpoint it exactly. It is a slightly old-fashioned and informal British English expression.

Register

Informal and slightly old-fashioned. Hereabouts has a pleasant, slightly rustic quality. It is standard in informal British English, particularly in speech, and has a warm, unhurried quality that matches its approximate, unhurried meaning.