full circle

American

noun

to the original place, source, or state through a cycle of developments (usually used in the phrasecome full circle ).

Etymology

Origin of full circle

1875–80, for literal sense

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.

Fate comes full circle, and we can either ride its wave or struggle against it.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

If City win, then momentum swings full circle and they would become outright favourites to collect another title under Pep.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

It’s a full circle moment for LeDuc, who was holding his granddaughter at the awards ceremony in Sacramento.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

"It feels like we've come full circle," Robert Faison said.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

However, if Venus was further from the Earth than the sun, its size would vary considerably over time, but it would nearly always be a full circle, and never be much less than that.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023