in the round

Idioms  

1. Visible from all sides, as in Jerry's done an excellent job in this interview, really portraying the senator in the round. This expression, which dates from about 1800, was at first used for a free-standing piece of sculpture (as opposed to a relief on a wall), and a century later for a theatrical stage (called theater-in-the-round) so placed that the audience could see a performance from all sides. Since the 1920s it has also been used figuratively for someone or something seen three-dimensionally, as in the example.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in the round

"They created a theatre of 750 seats in the round, a democratic arena where the alchemy between actor and audience is at its most purest form and they've created something that still feels fresh today."

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Khosla Ventures, Blackstone and Sequoia Capital are among the investors participating in the round.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

“The Mad King” is staged in the round and brings viewers into the throne room at King’s Landing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Then the team went on to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32, its first knockout stage win since 2002.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

With two questions left to go in the round, the score was still tied.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein