circumvent
Americanverb (used with object)
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to go around or bypass.
to circumvent the lake;
to circumvent the real issues.
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to avoid (defeat, failure, unpleasantness, etc.) by artfulness or deception; avoid by anticipating or outwitting.
He circumvented capture by anticipating their movements.
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to surround or encompass, as by stratagem; entrap.
to circumvent a body of enemy troops.
verb
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to evade or go around
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to outwit
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to encircle (an enemy) so as to intercept or capture
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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circumventiveadjective
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circumventionnoun
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uncircumventedadjective
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circumventornoun
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circumventernoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has circumventedperfect 3rd person singular
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have circumventedperfect
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am circumventingprogressive 1st person singular
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is circumventingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are circumventingprogressive
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have been circumventingperfect progressive
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has been circumventingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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circumventingparticiple
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circumventssingular 3rd person
Past
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had circumventedperfect
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had been circumventingperfect progressive
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were circumventingprogressive plural
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was circumventingprogressive singular
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circumventedsimple
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circumventedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of circumvent
First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin circumventus (past participle of circumvenīre “to come around, surround, oppress, defraud”), equivalent to circum- circum- + ven(īre) “to come” + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
To circumvent is to avoid. Someone who trains elephants but somehow gets out of picking up after them has found a way to circumvent the cleaning of the circus tent. Circum in Latin means "around" or "round about," and vent- comes from venire, "to come," but painting a picture from these two parts of the word helps. Picture someone circling around a barrier instead of climbing over it. That's what you do when you circumvent. You find a smart way around rules or barriers, or avoid doing something unpleasant altogether.
Vocabulary lists containing circumvent
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Around and Around: Circum
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Beijing’s move to choke off the supply spurred companies to develop new products that could potentially circumvent Chinese sources.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
In return, analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, food and energy, helping it circumvent sanctions over its banned nuclear programmes.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
With the Iran war now well into its third month, countries are scrambling to circumvent the geopolitical tug of war by transitioning more quickly to renewables.
From Salon • May 16, 2026
Saudi Arabia has been able to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz with shipments from the Red Sea, but none of those barrels are headed to the West Coast.
From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026
I find most interesting the conspiracy of life in the desert to circumvent the death rays of the all-conquering sun.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
