encompassing

American  

[en-kuhm-puh-sing] / ɛnˈkʌm pə sɪŋ /

adjective

1. forming a circle around something; encircling or surrounding.

   She serves the whole Anchorage real estate market, including the encompassing communities.

2. comprehensively including, addressing, or dealing with all parts or aspects of something.

   Whether as a regular treatment or a special indulgence, your fully encompassing spa experience will leave you looking and feeling fantastic!

3. fully enclosing or enveloping something.

   As she looked out reflectively over the lake, the encompassing quiet was sliced by the shrill sound of her cell phone.

---

noun

1. the act or state of surrounding, enclosing, or comprehensively including something.

   The term “diaspora” allows for the encompassing of a wider range of people and experiences than “immigrants.”

Etymology

Origin of encompassing

First recorded in 1565–75; encompass ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; encompass ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Explanation

Something that's encompassing completely encloses or surrounds something else. An island, for example, sits in the midst of encompassing ocean waves. The adjective encompassing can describe things that literally encircle something, and also things that are so extensive that they seem to do so. For example, an encompassing history of World War II would include everything about the period, including the Holocaust. Encompassing comes from the verb encompass, "surround and hold within," or "include comprehensively," from the roots en-, "put in," and compass, "space or circumference."

Example Sentences

This is one smart, encompassing album about the world this talented singer-songwriter inhabits.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

The property is surrounded by lush landscaping and features sophisticated stone flooring encompassing the pool.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

While these cases consume a lot of resources and are not nearly as encompassing as preclearance was, they have been effective.

From Slate • May 1, 2026

Ticket-buyers were led to believe Category 1 seats were the most expensive, encompassing most of the lower bowl, according to color-coded seat maps released by FIFA.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Arguing that Y-12 was the most reliable option for meeting the new specifications, he pressed for a major expansion of the plant, encompassing additional Betas and a new, more productive Alpha design.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• enveloping