an act or instance of going around something, as a circle, course, or traffic pattern, and returning to the starting point.
a series or pattern of occurrences; round.
After the third go-around of questions, the witness was released.
(adverb) to move about
to frequent the society (of a person or group of people)
she went around with older men
(adverb) to be sufficient
are there enough sweets to go round?
to circulate (in)
measles is going round the school
(preposition) to be actively and constantly engaged in (doing something)
she went around caring for the sick
to be long enough to encircle
will that belt go round you?
Also, go round . Satisfy a demand or need, as in Is there enough food to go around? [Mid-1800s]
Same as go about , def. 1.
go around with . Same as go with , def. 1.
. Engage in excited but useless activity. For example, Bill ran around in circles trying organize us but to no avail . This idiom was first recorded in 1933. For what goes around comes around , see under full circle .
First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase go around
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I do think that his final go-around, this last push, I think it certainly motivates his teammates, who want him to go out as a champion,” manager Dave Roberts said.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025
Captain Heard took the controls and performed a "go-around" where the plane climbs higher, does a big circle and tries again.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2025
His aircraft quickly aborted the landing, climbed back into the sky and began circling the airport to try again - a flight manoeuvre called a sudden go-around.
From BBC • Jan. 31, 2025
As part of his strategy this go-around, Brown has made it a point to distance himself from the top of his party's ticket.
From Salon • Sep. 21, 2024
Starting at the very beginning, I told him everything that had happened, from my first go-around with the monkeys until I had sailed over the rail fence.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
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.
