encircle

American

[en-sur-kuhl] / ɛnˈsɜr kəl /

verb (used with object)

encircled, encircling

to form a circle around; surround; encompass.

to encircle an enemy.
to make a circling movement around; make the circuit of.

encircle British

/ ɪnˈsɜːkəl /

verb

(tr) to form a circle around; enclose within a circle; surround

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

encirclement noun
encircling adjective
unencircled adjective

Etymology

Origin of encircle

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; en- ¹, circle

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.

Several thousand people compete for spots in the lots and decks that encircle the headquarters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Thirty-six dancers with raised arms glide slowly forward as they encircle their prey, a lone figure on a red table in a climactic scene from Ravel's "Bolero" choreographed by Maurice Bejart.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

It already displays two prominent, sweeping arms that encircle a bright central bulge, stretching across about 30,000 light-years.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2025

As the earth began to shake around 10 a.m., the elder elephants in the enclosure rushed to encircle the youngsters, the video shows.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025

My fingers encircle a blackberry and pluck it from its stem.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

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