verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
encirclesimple
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encirclessimple
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have encircledperfect
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has encircledperfect
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am encirclingprogressive
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are encirclingprogressive
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is encirclingprogressive
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have been encirclingperfect progressive
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has been encirclingperfect progressive
Past
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encircledsimple
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had encircledperfect
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was encirclingprogressive
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were encirclingprogressive
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had been encirclingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of encircle
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at en- 1, circle
Explanation
To encircle is to surround, or to make a circle around. On the last night of summer camp, the counselors and campers traditionally encircle the campfire and sing songs. Prisons are encircled by barbed wire fences, and hot, damp pavement encircles most public swimming pools. When you hug your little sister, you encircle her with your arms. If your tomato plants are growing too tall and flopping over, you should encircle them with twine to hold them up. Encircle adds the prefix en-, "make or put in" to circle, from its Latin root circus, or "ring."
Vocabulary lists containing encircle
Florida's B.E.S.T Roots: circ, 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.
See Examples For:
Several thousand people compete for spots in the lots and decks that encircle the headquarters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
Thirty-six dancers with raised arms glide slowly forward as they encircle their prey, a lone figure on a red table in a climactic scene from Ravel's "Bolero" choreographed by Maurice Bejart.
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
It already displays two prominent, sweeping arms that encircle a bright central bulge, stretching across about 30,000 light-years.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 3, 2025
By turning its attention to Kayes, the group is not only widening its footprint but threatening to encircle Bamako.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2025
Ned would surely have prevailed upon Robert to bring up his whole force, to encircle Stannis and besiege the besiegers.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
The A855 road encircles the Trotternish peninsula in the north of the island and a diversion route is now in place.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
The carbon-rich disk encircles the planet known as CT Cha b, located about 625 light-years from Earth.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2025
Since 2019, it has expanded its attacks from northern Burkina Faso and now encircles Ouagadougou, threatening links with neighbouring Ivory Coast, Togo and Mali.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2025
This framing device encircles just one remarkable chapter of the wild and colorful life of Miller, who lived so much both before and after the war.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2024
I slice one of them, but another encircles my legs and closes them tight.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Jupiter currently has more than 100 reported moons, while Saturn, which is also encircled by an extensive ring system, has more than 280.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Weeks later, in July 2014, Drapatiy coordinated the safe withdrawal of 260 troops from an area that was encircled and relentlessly shelled for weeks by Russian forces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Later that year, he was commended for withdrawing encircled Ukrainian units from a border area of the Luhansk region.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Several hundred city residents, social justice activists, and dozens of Newark police officers encircled the DHS site where Baraka was being held.
From Salon ● May 30, 2026
The taut blue horizon encircled them, broken only by the mountain-top.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
The small patch of dirt encircling Carmen Silverio Guardado’s home bears fruit — lots of it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
She pointed out one pup with a piece of trash encircling its neck.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
Behind the concertina wire encircling the bases, Germans could experience American bowling alleys and drive-in theaters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
The new English coast path links with the Wales Coast Path - an 870-mile route encircling the Welsh coastline.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
Thus does the earth rotate together with circumjacent waters and encircling atmosphere.’
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
