encircle
verb (used with object)
to form a circle around; surround; encompass.
are encircling
-
present progressiveof encircle.present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
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.
The quick recurrence of flares suggests the stars are encircling the black holes at a very close distance.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 12, 2023
"It's tough in Kyiv, they are encircling the city," she told Reuters, with two little dogs on their leashes.
From Reuters ● Mar. 11, 2022
It's a similar picture across much of Afghanistan: the government controls the cities and bigger towns, but the Taliban are encircling them, with a presence in large parts of the countryside.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2021
Among them are encircling large crowds to prevent people from peacefully dispersing before charging in to make arrests, a practice known as “kettling.”
From New York Times ● Aug. 17, 2020
The police, in blue uniforms, are encircling them and thirty-odd additional migrants who have spent the night among the dead.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
