around
Americanadverb
-
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.
preposition
-
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.
-
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
preposition
-
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
adverb
-
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
Usage
In American English, around is usually used instead of round in adverbial and prepositional senses, except in a few fixed phrases such as all year round. The use of around in adverbial senses is less common in British English
Etymology
Origin of around
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English around(e); a- 1, round 1
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.
Antle said the first attack happened Dec. 21, around 12:30 a.m.
From Los Angeles Times
The Dundee-based South Georgia Heritage Trust have been working to stabilise the structure, with plans to create a digital "twin" of the building for people around the world to see it.
From BBC
The potential building is located in the centre of the cemetery and graves are clustered around it.
From BBC
That is around half of the number of births recorded a decade ago, when China started to ease its rules on how many children people could have.
From BBC
Anytime Mendoza has met a hurdle, he considers how to help those around him shine.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
