encompass
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to enclose within a circle; surround
-
to bring about; cause to happen; contrive
he encompassed the enemy's ruin
-
to include entirely or comprehensively
this book encompasses the whole range of knowledge
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
encompasssimple
-
encompassessimple
-
have encompassedperfect
-
has encompassedperfect
-
am encompassingprogressive
-
are encompassingprogressive
-
is encompassingprogressive
-
have been encompassingperfect progressive
-
has been encompassingperfect progressive
Past
-
encompassedsimple
-
had encompassedperfect
-
was encompassingprogressive
-
were encompassingprogressive
-
had been encompassingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of encompass
Explanation
Encompass means to contain. When you see the word, picture a campus which encompasses lecture halls, a football field, a medical center, a dining hall and some parking lots. Encompass can be used when talking about anything that contains something else. A lecture on Edward Hopper might encompass all aspects of his life and art, a work of art could encompass many techniques, and a policeman's jurisdiction may encompass an entire state. The continental U.S. encompasses 48 states. This entry encompasses many examples of the word encompass in use!
Vocabulary lists containing encompass
Born a Crime
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Things They Carried
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 1: Telling Details
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
"Roman will extend the search far enough to encompass other galactic habitats, which could help us learn how planet formation varies across different regions of the Milky Way."
From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 2026
Referrals aren’t public information, but the order is so broad—pledging to end inquiries that “could be pending” against an unspecified set of taxpayers—that it couldn’t encompass only actual referred cases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026
She admits that difficult conversations need to be had - but these should also encompass failures in social policy, housing, the prison system and the justice system.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
Art, increasingly, is maximized to encompass us, and Cosm understands this moment well.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026
At least, this is what the last day of school is supposed to encompass.
From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea
Immortals is funding Tolo’s wellness project; the effort is expected to cost $2.6 million annually, a figure that encompasses spending on equipment, testing and a dedicated team to keep the project running.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
This highlights the changing nature of holistic planning, which encompasses a lot more than just your funeral wishes and what happens to your most cherished possessions.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
So where does that leave the USMCA, a trade deal that encompasses some 510 million people?
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Menefee ultimately defeated Green to represent the newly drawn 18th Congressional District that encompasses parts of both of their current Houston-area districts.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
"It encompasses all that is made, unmade, and yet to be made."
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Covitz has spent nearly three decades at the Fed, and his research has encompassed a range of topics on financial stability and credit markets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The deal encompassed a $1-billion investment by Disney in OpenAI.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
Sales for the latest quarter, which encompassed the key holiday-shopping period, were $30.45 billion, down 1.5%, with same-store sales down 2.5%.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 3, 2026
The judge also found that executive orders issued by Trump had relied on a definition of antisemitism that encompassed First Amendment-protected speech — the same definition recommended by the Massachusetts Commission.
From Salon ● Nov. 30, 2025
China may actually have encompassed two or more independent centers of origins of food production.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Denning describes culture as encompassing values, norms, judgments, history, communities, moods, and even relationships involving power and care.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
The southwestern region of Honam -- a traditional liberal stronghold encompassing Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces -- has long lagged behind the more industrialised southeast.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
Its clients include private-equity and venture-capital firms as well as their fund investors, such as pension funds and sovereign-wealth funds, encompassing more than $5.9 trillion in client invested capital across some 15,000 funds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
The property is surrounded by lush landscaping and features sophisticated stone flooring encompassing the pool.
From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026
Small at first, encompassing with my body, the room, the building, the city, the country, until I know that if I look down I will see my shadow blotting out the earth.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
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.
