encompass
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to enclose within a circle; surround
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to bring about; cause to happen; contrive
he encompassed the enemy's ruin
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to include entirely or comprehensively
this book encompasses the whole range of knowledge
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of encompass
Explanation
Encompass means to contain. When you see the word, picture a campus which encompasses lecture halls, a football field, a medical center, a dining hall and some parking lots. Encompass can be used when talking about anything that contains something else. A lecture on Edward Hopper might encompass all aspects of his life and art, a work of art could encompass many techniques, and a policeman's jurisdiction may encompass an entire state. The continental U.S. encompasses 48 states. This entry encompasses many examples of the word encompass in use!
Vocabulary lists containing encompass
Born a Crime
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The Things They Carried
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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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.
Art, increasingly, is maximized to encompass us, and Cosm understands this moment well.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
Discovery will encompass CNN, CBS, HBO, and Nickelodeon, as well as some of Hollywood's most valuable franchises, including "Harry Potter," "Game of Thrones," the DC Universe, "Mission: Impossible," and "SpongeBob SquarePants."
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
The "Golden Dome", which aims to encompass the US, is designed to counter aerial threats to the US, including ballistic and cruise missiles.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says an economic downturn sparked by weakness in credit would encompass more than just the private credit segment and be worse than many expect.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026
It was understandable that Wagner might want to speculate about the art world of the future, one that would encompass within it all the arts, centred on human dramas of love, death and destiny.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
