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  • come full circle
    come full circle
    When something “comes full circle,” it completes a cycle, returns to its beginnings: “The novelist's vision of human life has come full circle — from optimism to pessimism and back to optimism again.”
  • full circle, come
    full circle, come
    Also, go full circle. Complete an entire cycle; return to the original position or condition. For example, After a whole year of debate we have come full circle on this issue. Shakespeare may have originated this expression in King Lear (5:3): “The wheel is come full circle.” A 20th-century idiom with a similar meaning is what goes around comes around, as in I knew if I helped her now, she would help me later—what goes around comes around.

come full circle

Cultural  
  1. When something “comes full circle,” it completes a cycle, returns to its beginnings: “The novelist's vision of human life has come full circle — from optimism to pessimism and back to optimism again.”


full circle, come Idioms  
  1. Also, go full circle. Complete an entire cycle; return to the original position or condition. For example, After a whole year of debate we have come full circle on this issue. Shakespeare may have originated this expression in King Lear (5:3): “The wheel is come full circle.” A 20th-century idiom with a similar meaning is what goes around comes around, as in I knew if I helped her now, she would help me later—what goes around comes around.

  2. see full circle.


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.

See Examples For:

It would be ironic indeed if the Metcalfe’s Law model were to help bitcoin come full circle to what its supporters originally intended it to be.

From MarketWatch Jun. 11, 2026

Edwards was Corteen-Coleman's Brave coach at the time, and the youngster feels her journey has come "full circle" as the former England captain also presented her with her first cap for Kent under-11s.

From BBC Apr. 28, 2026

Now, seven years later, Owens’ story has come full circle.

From Salon Apr. 4, 2026

Because I grew up in the suburbs, I feel I’ve come full circle.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 28, 2025

Besides, the game of name tag was about to come full circle: By the early 1980s, a group of businesspeople decided that the name Sing Sing might attract tourists.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

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