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
- circumventer noun
- circumvention noun
- circumventive adjective
- circumventor noun
- uncircumvented adjective
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
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 trend of "agentic AI" means the advent of systems that can "act autonomously, make decisions, and even circumvent defensive mechanisms," according to Kreuzer.
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
"The conduct by these individuals alleged in the indictment is a contravention of the company's policies and compliance controls, including efforts to circumvent applicable export control laws and regulations," the firm said.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
“The conduct by these individuals alleged in the indictment is a contravention of the company’s policies and compliance controls, including efforts to circumvent applicable export-control laws and regulations,” Super Micro said in a statement.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
Kuznetsova said residents of St. Petersburg, a city of 5.5 million people, have turned en masse to virtual private networks, which can circumvent bans on certain websites and messengers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026
I find most interesting the conspiracy of life in the desert to circumvent the death rays of the all-conquering sun.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
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.
