about to disappear

USAGE SUMMARY

"about to disappear" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that something is very close to disappearing or coming to an end. Example: The sun was setting and the last bit of light was about to disappear behind the mountains.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Anyway, his Glasgow seat is about to disappear in a boundary redistribution.

The Economist

It's unfortunate that one of Hefce's benevolent roles is about to disappear.

The Guardian

Their only source of revenue is about to disappear.

HuffPost

They are not about to disappear.

The Economist

Such dilemmas are about to disappear.

The Economist

It's not about to disappear.

The Guardian

And I think I'm about to disappear.

The Guardian - Books

Of that, $3 million may be about to disappear.

The New York Times

Each book seemed about to disappear up its own kazoo.

The New York Times - Books

But the virus was not about to disappear.

The Washington Post

Some of their edge, however, is about to disappear.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to disappear" when you want to convey a sense of something being on the immediate verge of vanishing or ceasing to exist. This phrase often creates a sense of urgency or finality.

Common error

Avoid using "about to disappear" for situations that are merely changing or evolving, rather than completely ceasing. Reserve it for scenarios where something is truly on the brink of non-existence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to disappear" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that it is on the verge of vanishing or ceasing to exist. Ludwig confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about to disappear" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe something on the verge of vanishing. As verified by Ludwig, its primary function is to indicate imminence and create a sense of urgency or finality. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles. While synonyms like "on the verge of vanishing" offer similar meanings, "about to disappear" remains a direct and effective choice. Be mindful of using it accurately, reserving it for situations where complete disappearance, not just change, is imminent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disappearing soon

A simpler and more direct alternative.

on the verge of vanishing

Replaces "about" with "on the verge", emphasizing the imminence of the disappearance.

vanishing imminently

Highlights the immediacy and certainty of the disappearance.

on the brink of extinction

Suggests a complete and final disappearance, often used for species or phenomena.

nearing its end

Focuses on the termination of something's existence, more general than disappearing.

set to vanish

Implies a planned or predetermined disappearance.

close to being gone

A more informal way of expressing the impending disappearance.

on its way out

An idiomatic expression indicating something is becoming obsolete or is ceasing to exist.

almost nonexistent

Highlights the nearly complete lack of existence, implying a prior existence.

fading away

Emphasizes a gradual process of disappearing.

FAQs

What does "about to disappear" mean?

The phrase "about to disappear" means that something is very close to vanishing or ceasing to exist. It suggests that the disappearance is imminent.

What can I say instead of "about to disappear"?

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of vanishing", "nearing its end", or "vanishing imminently" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "about to disappear" in formal writing?

Yes, "about to disappear" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, for highly formal contexts, consider using synonyms like "on the brink of extinction" for added emphasis.

How to use "about to disappear" in a sentence?

You can use "about to disappear" in a sentence to indicate that something is almost gone. For example, "The sun was about to disappear behind the mountains" or "Their funding is about to disappear, putting the project at risk".