just about done

/dʒʌst əˈbaʊt dʌn/
almost finished

I'm just about done with my homework.

I am nearly finished with my homework.


informal

Almost finished; very close to completion.

The movie is just about done; it'll end in five minutes.

The movie is almost finished; it will end soon.

We're just about done packing for the trip.

We are nearly finished packing for the trip.

Used to indicate that something is nearly complete but not entirely finished. Common in casual speech.

Related Phrases

almost therephrase
very close to achieving a goal
on the home stretchphrase
in the final stage of a process

Pro Tip

Common Mistakes

Avoid using 'just about done' in formal writing. It is best suited for casual conversations. For formal contexts, use 'nearly complete' or 'almost finished.'

Gold Rule

Usage Context

Use 'just about done' to indicate that a task is almost complete but not entirely finished. It suggests imminence without full completion.

Word Origin

The phrase combines 'just about' (meaning 'almost' or 'nearly') with 'done' (past participle of 'do', indicating completion). 'Just about' has been used in English since the mid-19th century to mean 'very close to.'

Usage Notes

This phrase is informal and commonly used in spoken English. It implies that the task is very close to being finished but may still require a small amount of time or effort.

Word Breakdown

just about
almost or nearly
phrase
+
done
completed
adjective
English Dictionary