been around

Idioms

Been present or active; especially, gained experience or sophistication. For example, This book isn't new; it's been around for many years, or This strategy won't fool Bill; he's been around. [First half of 1900s] Also see get around.

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.

Shiny snake-oil bottles and product bubbles have been around for centuries.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

This idea, which has been around for several years, has faced considerable pushback from experts.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Monograms have been around for centuries, dating all the way back to ancient Greece.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Video calling has been around for decades—since at least 2003, when Skype came on the scene.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

He had short hair, and his confident manner signaled that he’d been around awhile.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023