circumvent
Americanverb (used with object)
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to go around or bypass.
to circumvent the lake;
to circumvent the real issues.
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to avoid (defeat, failure, unpleasantness, etc.) by artfulness or deception; avoid by anticipating or outwitting.
He circumvented capture by anticipating their movements.
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to surround or encompass, as by stratagem; entrap.
to circumvent a body of enemy troops.
verb
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to evade or go around
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to outwit
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to encircle (an enemy) so as to intercept or capture
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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circumventiveadjective
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circumventionnoun
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uncircumventedadjective
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circumventornoun
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circumventernoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has circumventedperfect 3rd person singular
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have circumventedperfect
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am circumventingprogressive 1st person singular
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is circumventingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are circumventingprogressive
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have been circumventingperfect progressive
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has been circumventingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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circumventingparticiple
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circumventssingular 3rd person
Past
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had circumventedperfect
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had been circumventingperfect progressive
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were circumventingprogressive plural
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was circumventingprogressive singular
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circumventedsimple
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circumventedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of circumvent
First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin circumventus (past participle of circumvenīre “to come around, surround, oppress, defraud”), equivalent to circum- circum- + ven(īre) “to come” + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
To circumvent is to avoid. Someone who trains elephants but somehow gets out of picking up after them has found a way to circumvent the cleaning of the circus tent. Circum in Latin means "around" or "round about," and vent- comes from venire, "to come," but painting a picture from these two parts of the word helps. Picture someone circling around a barrier instead of climbing over it. That's what you do when you circumvent. You find a smart way around rules or barriers, or avoid doing something unpleasant altogether.
Vocabulary lists containing circumvent
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Around and Around: Circum
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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 report said the goal seemed to be to circumvent a $2,500 cap and add a $480 gratuity, or 20%, in a place where tipping isn’t customary.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
The House was able to force a vote on the measure Thursday after Republican supporters of the bill joined Democrats in signing a discharge petition that essentially allows a majority to circumvent leadership.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
The investigation was triggered by reports from podcaster Pablo Torre that Leonard’s sponsorship deal with Aspiration was to circumvent the salary cap.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
With the Iran war now well into its third month, countries are scrambling to circumvent the geopolitical tug of war by transitioning more quickly to renewables.
From Salon • May 16, 2026
Hera kept silence then, but her thoughts were busy as to how she might help the Greeks and circumvent Zeus.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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.
