go-around
noun
an act or instance of going around something, as a circle, course, or traffic pattern, and returning to the starting point.
go-around
American
[goh-uh-raund]
/ ˈgoʊ əˌraʊnd /
Also
go-round
noun
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an act or instance of going around something, as a circle, course, or traffic pattern, and returning to the starting point.
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a series or pattern of occurrences; round.
After the third go-around of questions, the witness was released.
go around
British
verb
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(adverb) to move about
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to frequent the society (of a person or group of people)
she went around with older men
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(adverb) to be sufficient
are there enough sweets to go round?
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to circulate (in)
measles is going round the school
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(preposition) to be actively and constantly engaged in (doing something)
she went around caring for the sick
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to be long enough to encircle
will that belt go round you?
go around
Idioms
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Also, go round . Satisfy a demand or need, as in Is there enough food to go around? [Mid-1800s]
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Same as go about , def. 1.
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go around with . Same as go with , def. 1.
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. 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 .
Etymology
Origin of go-around
First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase go around
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:
England made it to the final four in Russia and the final eight in Qatar, but this likely will be the final go-around for a roster led by Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Jordan Pickford.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
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
Just 24 hours before the deadly collision, a military helicopter came too close to a different regional jet, which then performed a sudden go-around, according to a list of incidents and accidents from the FAA.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2025
This is the second go-around for Joseph, who had the horse through March 2023 when he was moved to trainer Rick Dutrow, who won the Classic with the 6-year-old horse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2025
My first go-around with the monkeys left me a little discouraged—but not too much.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Her mum helps financially when she can, but there's not a lot of money to go around and Sam says she's conscious of that.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
“There’s just a bevy of cases that say you can’t just go around the Senate rules or the House rules when you put somebody in contempt,” Brand said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
There’s only so much capital to go around.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
“I can’t even describe it. I go around with Mikey sometimes, and I’m starstruck by everything I see out here. It’s hilarious to go from country roads to this,” Ellis said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
As dumb as “Swagerific” is, I can’t go around the neighborhood without hearing it.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
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.
