around
in a circle, ring, or the like; so as to surround a person, group, thing, etc.: The crowd gathered around.
on all sides; about: His land is fenced all around.
in all directions from a center or point of reference: He owns the land for miles around.
in a region or area neighboring a place: all the country around.
in circumference: The tree was 40 inches around.
in a circular or rounded course: to fly around and around.
through a sequence or series, as of places or persons: to show someone around.
through a recurring period, as of time, especially to the present or a particular time: when spring rolls around again.
by a circuitous or roundabout course: The driveway to the house goes around past the stables.
to a place or point, as by a circuit or circuitous course: to get around into the navigable channel.
with a rotating course or movement: The wheels turned around.
in or to another or opposite direction, course, opinion, etc.: Sit still and don't turn around.After our arguments, she finally came around.
back into consciousness: The smelling salts brought her around.
in circulation, action, etc.: He hasn't been around lately.The play has been around for years.When will she be up and around?
somewhere near or about; nearby: I'll be around if you need me.
to a specific place: He came around to see me.
about; on all sides; encircling; encompassing: a halo around his head.
so as to encircle, surround, or envelop: to tie paper around a package.
on the edge, border, or outer part of: a skirt with fringe around the bottom.
from place to place in; about: to get around town.
in all or various directions from: to look around one.
in the vicinity of: the country around Boston.
approximately; about: It's around five o'clock.
here and there in: There are many cafés around the city.
somewhere in or near: to stay around the house.
to all or various parts of: to wander around the country.
so as to make a circuit about or partial circuit to the other side of: to go around the lake;to sail around the cape.
reached by making a turn or partial circuit about: the church around the corner.
so as to revolve or rotate about a center or axis: the earth's motion around its axis.
personally close to: Only the few advisers around the party leader understood his real motives.
so as to get by a difficulty: They got around the lack of chairs by sitting on the floor.
so as to have a foundation in: The novel is built around a little-known historical event.
Idioms about around
been around, having had much worldly experience: He's been around and isn't likely to be taken in.
Origin of around
1Words Nearby around
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use around in a sentence
Have you looked around the American Dental Association website for an explanation of how fluoridation actually works?
Added to drinking water at concentrations of around one part per million, fluoride ions stick to dental plaque.
Then Ziegler tosses the buff LaBeouf around like a rag doll.
Sia and Shia LaBeouf’s Pedophilia Nontroversy Over ‘Elastic Heart’ | Marlow Stern | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIn straight relationships with an age gap, words like ‘gold-digger’ and ‘trophy wife’ get thrown around.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic | Samantha Allen | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTToomey glides around the room like a Brazilian capoeira dancer.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze | Lizzie Crocker | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Descending the Alps to the east or south into Piedmont, a new world lies around and before you.
Glances at Europe | Horace GreeleyDavy looked around and saw an old man coming toward them across the lawn.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylThis, however, did not apply to the waters lying directly around the Poloe and Flatland groups.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneAt present, Louis was too self-absorbed by the struggles within him, to look deep into what was passing around him.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterWhile they were doing this, he assembled the officers around him, and the meaning of our night march was explained to us.
British Dictionary definitions for around
/ (əˈraʊnd) /
situated at various points in: a lot of shelves around the house
from place to place in: driving around Ireland
somewhere in or near: to stay around the house
approximately in: it happened around 1957, I think
surrounding, encircling, or enclosing: a band around her head
in all directions from a point of reference: he owns the land for ten miles around
in the vicinity, esp restlessly but idly: to wait around; stand around
here and there; in no particular place or direction: dotted around
informal (of people) active and prominent in a particular area or profession: some pop stars are around for only a few years
informal present in some place (the exact location being inexact): he's around here somewhere
informal in circulation; available: that type of phone has been around for some years now
informal to many places, so as to have gained considerable experience, often of a worldly or social nature: he gets around; I've been around
Origin of around
1usage For around
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with around
In addition to the idioms beginning with around
- around the bend
- around the corner
also see:
- beat about (around) the bush
- been around
- boss someone around
- bring around
- cast about (around)
- come around
- enough to go around
- every time one turns around
- fool around
- fuck around
- full circle (what goes around comes around)
- get around
- get around to
- go around in circles
- hang around
- horse around
- kick around
- kid around
- knock about (around)
- know one's way around
- mess around
- nose about (around)
- pal around with
- play around
- poke around
- push around
- rally around
- roll around
- run around in circles
- run around like a chicken
- run around with
- run rings around
- screw around
- scrounge around
- shop around
- sleep around
- stick around
- talk around
- tear around
- throw one's weight around
- turn around
- twist around one's finger
- up and about (around)
Also see underround.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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