1
a
: in a circle or in circumference
The wheel goes around.
a tree five feet around
b
: in, along, or through a circuit
The road goes around by the lake.
2
a
: on all or various sides : in every or any direction
papers lying around
There was nothing for miles around.
b
: in close from all sides so as to surround
People crowded around.
c
: in or near one's present place or situation
We had to wait around awhile.
3
a
: here and there : from one place to another
She travels around on business.
b
: to a particular place
You should come around for dinner.
c
—used with some verbs to indicate repeated or continued action
He's always joking around when he should be serious.
Don't play around with your food.
4
a
: in rotation or succession
Another winter has come around.
b
: from beginning to end : through
The weather is mild the year around.
c
: in order
the other way around
5
: in or to an opposite direction or position
turn around
6
: with some approach to exactness : approximately
It costs around $5.
1
a
: on all sides of
a yard with a fence around it
b
: so as to encircle or enclose
seated around the table
c
: so as to avoid or get past : on or to another side of
trying to find a way around their objections
We went around the lake.
around the corner
d
: near
lives around Chicago
around the turn of the century
2
: in all directions outward from
Look around you.
3
: here and there in or throughout
They went barnstorming around the country.
4
: so as to have a center or basis in
a society organized around kinship ties
1
: about sense 1
He has been up and around for two days.
2
: being in existence, evidence, or circulation
… the most intelligent of the artists around today.—
R. M. Coates
R. M. CoatesSynonyms
Examples of around in a Sentence
Adverb
Don't take the long way around: I know a shortcut.
He entered the room and looked around.
This is a very interesting town: let me show you around.
I'm not sure where it is, but it must be around somewhere.
It's safer when there are other people around.
I'd like to speak to him if he's around.
Preposition
The people were seated around the table.
A crowd gathered around him.
He tied the rope around his waist.
We went all around the lake enjoying the different views.
They sailed around the world.
He's a well-known figure around the town.
We drove all around the town looking for him.
This is a very interesting town: let me show you around it.
We took a tour around New England.
You can find lots of good restaurants around here.
Adjective
she's generally regarded as one of the most talented singers around
Recent Examples on the WebRay Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 27 Apr. 2024
By the end of the year, after many noes, the young founders had convinced 85 people to inject around $2 million into Octopus Investments.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 27 Apr. 2024
Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images In Colorado, police swept through an encampment Friday at Denver's Auraria Campus, which hosts three universities and colleges, arresting around 40 protesters on trespassing charges.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2024
In just five years, the domestic market size of the micro-drama industry has reached 70% of the scale of China’s century-old film industry, at around 38 billion yuan (around $5 billion) in 2023, according to Chinese financial newspaper Securities Times, and projected to grow to $14 billion by 2027.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 27 Apr. 2024
California Drone footage: Isla Vista bluff collapses in storm, damaging a student apartment balcony
Feb. 6, 2024
Oceanside is still in the preliminary design phase of that plan, with the new building estimated to cost around $40 million.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
The rushing around seems part and parcel of this boom phase of Martin’s career, with its proliferating gigs and opportunities.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2024
Police received a phone call around 2 p.m. to report a body on the highway near Briley Parkway and Old Hickory Boulevard, reports WKRN.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024
Over the course of the next three weeks, Tiffany & Co. expects that around 1,000 private clients will come to the freshened-up Beverly Estate to view and try on the new Blue Book Céleste collection.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
Justin Carter / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Apr. 2024
In and around Los Banos, the pursuit of water has been the key to power and wealth for more than a century.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2024
Mean jokes don’t generally play well around a deathbed.
—Christopher Maag, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
Those in Dunn Meadow passed around a megaphone, reciting poems and encouraging protestors to stay through the night.
—The Indianapolis Star, 27 Apr. 2024
Smith-Wade told the media after the pick that the Panthers view him as a guy who can play all around the secondary.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
Puff Cannabis also has special deals at their locations around the state.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024
Last year, Habib was among around 20 software developers and startup CEOs to attend a closed-door meeting with Sam Altman.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
Now a senior, Isbell set the school record for all-around score with a 38.5, topping the 18-year-old standard by 0.1 points, in a meet against Woburn Jan. 18.
—Kat Cornetta, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
Lee scored two perfect 10s, setting the program career record for 10s in the process, and took home the all-around title at Coleman Coliseum, but the Tigers fell to the Tide, 197.850-197.700 in a head-to-head dual meet.
—Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 3 Feb. 2023
In this corner, standing 5-foot-3 and winner of the 2022 NCAA women’s gymnastics all-around title, Florida’s Trinity Thomas.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
In 1983, Dianne Durham became the first Black woman to win the U.S.A. Gymnastics senior national championship and beat Mary Lou Retton to take the all-around title at the McDonald’s International Gymnastics Championship in Los Angeles.
—Andrea Williams Taylor Baucom, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2022
The 17-year-old who trains at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano had been a virtual lock to lead the U.S. team in Liverpool, England, in late October after winning the two-day national championship all-around title in August.
—Dallas News, 5 Oct. 2022
She's poised to become the first woman to win back-to-back all-around titles in more than 50 years.
—Jeva Lange, The Week, 23 July 2021
On Sunday, Biles made history once again by becoming the first American woman to win seven national women’s all-around titles at the 2021 US Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, TX.
—Asia Ewart, refinery29.com, 8 June 2021
Adverb
Latest Powerball winning numbers Saturday's Powerball numbers will be drawn at around 11 p.m. ET.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 27 Apr. 2024
By the end of the year, after many noes, the young founders had convinced 85 people to inject around $2 million into Octopus Investments.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 27 Apr. 2024
Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images In Colorado, police swept through an encampment Friday at Denver's Auraria Campus, which hosts three universities and colleges, arresting around 40 protesters on trespassing charges.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2024
In just five years, the domestic market size of the micro-drama industry has reached 70% of the scale of China’s century-old film industry, at around 38 billion yuan (around $5 billion) in 2023, according to Chinese financial newspaper Securities Times, and projected to grow to $14 billion by 2027.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 27 Apr. 2024
California Drone footage: Isla Vista bluff collapses in storm, damaging a student apartment balcony
Feb. 6, 2024
Oceanside is still in the preliminary design phase of that plan, with the new building estimated to cost around $40 million.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
The rushing around seems part and parcel of this boom phase of Martin’s career, with its proliferating gigs and opportunities.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2024
Police received a phone call around 2 p.m. to report a body on the highway near Briley Parkway and Old Hickory Boulevard, reports WKRN.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024
Over the course of the next three weeks, Tiffany & Co. expects that around 1,000 private clients will come to the freshened-up Beverly Estate to view and try on the new Blue Book Céleste collection.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
Preposition
Like the earlier movies, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes appears to be set in or around San Francisco, since one trailer shows apes hanging around at the remains of the Golden Gate Bridge.
—Justin Carter / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Apr. 2024
In and around Los Banos, the pursuit of water has been the key to power and wealth for more than a century.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2024
Mean jokes don’t generally play well around a deathbed.
—Christopher Maag, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
Those in Dunn Meadow passed around a megaphone, reciting poems and encouraging protestors to stay through the night.
—The Indianapolis Star, 27 Apr. 2024
Smith-Wade told the media after the pick that the Panthers view him as a guy who can play all around the secondary.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
Puff Cannabis also has special deals at their locations around the state.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024
Last year, Habib was among around 20 software developers and startup CEOs to attend a closed-door meeting with Sam Altman.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Start by making small abrasions in the areas where holes or fraying would naturally occur: At the knees, yes, but also the around hems, pocket edges, and button holes.
—Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
Now a senior, Isbell set the school record for all-around score with a 38.5, topping the 18-year-old standard by 0.1 points, in a meet against Woburn Jan. 18.
—Kat Cornetta, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
Lee scored two perfect 10s, setting the program career record for 10s in the process, and took home the all-around title at Coleman Coliseum, but the Tigers fell to the Tide, 197.850-197.700 in a head-to-head dual meet.
—Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 3 Feb. 2023
In this corner, standing 5-foot-3 and winner of the 2022 NCAA women’s gymnastics all-around title, Florida’s Trinity Thomas.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
In 1983, Dianne Durham became the first Black woman to win the U.S.A. Gymnastics senior national championship and beat Mary Lou Retton to take the all-around title at the McDonald’s International Gymnastics Championship in Los Angeles.
—Andrea Williams Taylor Baucom, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2022
The 17-year-old who trains at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano had been a virtual lock to lead the U.S. team in Liverpool, England, in late October after winning the two-day national championship all-around title in August.
—Dallas News, 5 Oct. 2022
She's poised to become the first woman to win back-to-back all-around titles in more than 50 years.
—Jeva Lange, The Week, 23 July 2021
On Sunday, Biles made history once again by becoming the first American woman to win seven national women’s all-around titles at the 2021 US Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, TX.
—Asia Ewart, refinery29.com, 8 June 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'around.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near around
Cite this Entry
“Around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/around. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
around
1 of 2 adverb1
: in circumference
a tree five feet around
2
: in or along a curving path
3
: on all sides
papers lying around
4
: nearby
stick around a while
5
: here and there in various places
travel around
6
: to each in turn
pass the fruit around
7
: from beginning to end
mild the year around
8
: in or to an opposite direction or position
turn around
9
: close to : approximately
costs around $20
around
2 of 2 preposition1
a
: on all sides of
were fields around the village
b
: so as to encircle or enclose
people seated around the table
c
: on or to another side of
voyage around Cape Horn
d
: near to
lives around Chicago
2
: here and there in or throughout
travel around the country
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