round·about
ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t 
: circuitous, indirect
had to take a roundabout route
roundaboutness
noun
1
: a circuitous route : detour
2
British
: merry-go-round
3
: a short close-fitting jacket worn by men and boys especially in the 19th century
4
Examples of roundabout in a Sentence
Adjective
He took a roundabout route to town.
In a roundabout way, he told me that my help was not wanted.
Recent Examples on the Web
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
In a roundabout way, one of the few things that could potentially stop Mbappe from smashing those individual records is precisely the calibre of player around him.
—Thom Harris, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Christine Clarridge, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
City officials plan more roundabouts, countdown timers, widened crosswalks and more to try to reduce fatalities.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
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Adjective
Cleveland’s trade of second baseman Andrés Giménez landed them, in a roundabout way, Ortiz, who emerged as a steady starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
In a roundabout way, one of the few things that could potentially stop Mbappe from smashing those individual records is precisely the calibre of player around him.
—Thom Harris, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
The recent decline may be linked, in part, to traffic calming measures, including lower speed limits, narrower roads, roundabouts, and no-right-on-red intersections, per the Vision Zero report.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
City officials plan more roundabouts, countdown timers, widened crosswalks and more to try to reduce fatalities.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
Cite this Entry
“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundabout. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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