Definition

1. Adverb:

   • In a circular motion or direction: Moving in a circle or along a circular path.
   • On all sides; in every direction: Located or situated in the surrounding area.
   • In or to various places; here and there: Moving or existing in different locations without a specific destination.
   • Approximately; nearly: Used to indicate an imprecise quantity, number, or time.
   • To a reversed position or direction: Turning so as to face the opposite way.
   • In existence or activity; present: Being in a particular area or available.

2. Preposition:

   • On all sides of; surrounding: Encircling or enclosing something.
   • In a circular path about (a center or axis): Moving so as to circle something.
   • In various places throughout; here and there in: Located in different parts of an area.
   • Near to; in the vicinity of: Close to a particular place.
   • Approximately at or about: Used with a time, number, or quantity to indicate an estimate.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • The wheels are spinning around.
  • She looked around the room.
  • He travels around for his job.
  • It costs around twenty dollars.
  • Turn around and look at me.
  • Is the manager around? I need to speak with him.

• Preposition:

  • We sat around the table.
  • The Earth moves around the sun.
  • There are shops around the city.
  • I live around the corner.
  • We'll meet around noon.

Advanced Usage

• "to be around": to be present, available, or in existence.
  • That song has been around for decades.
• "to get around": to travel to many places; to become known (for news or information).
  • He gets around by bicycle. / Word got around quickly.
• "to hang around": to spend time in a place, often without a specific purpose.
  • They like to hang around the park after school.

Variants and Related Words

• Round (adv., prep.): Often used similarly in British English (e.g., ).
• About (adv., prep.): A close synonym in many contexts (e.g., , ).

Synonyms

• Approximately (adv.): nearly, roughly, about.
• Surrounding (prep.): encircling, on all sides of.
• Everywhere (adv.): all over, throughout.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Come around: to visit; to change one's opinion; to regain consciousness.
  • Why don't you come around for dinner?
• Fool around: to behave in a silly or playful way; to waste time.
  • Stop fooling around and get to work.
• Shop around: to compare prices in different stores before buying.
  • You should shop around for the best deal.

Related Idioms

• Beat around the bush: to avoid talking directly about an issue.
  • Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
• Been around (the block): to be experienced in life.
  • He's been around; he knows how things work.
• Around the clock: all day and all night; continuously.
  • The team worked around the clock to finish the project.

Adverb

1. from beginning to end; throughout
   • It rains all year round on Skye
   • frigid weather the year around
2. in circumference
   • the trunk is ten feet around
   • the pond is two miles around
3. all around or on all sides
   • dirty clothes lying around (or about)
   • let's look about for help
   • There were trees growing all around
   • she looked around her
4. to a particular destination either specified or understood
   • she came around to see me
   • I invited them around for supper
5. in or to a reversed position or direction
   • about face
   • suddenly she turned around
6. (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
   • lasted approximately an hour
   • in just about a minute
   • he's about 30 years old
   • I've had about all I can stand
   • we meet about once a month
   • some forty people came
   • weighs around a hundred pounds
   • roughly $3,000
   • holds 3 gallons, more or less
   • 20 or so people were at the party
7. in a circle or circular motion
   • The wheels are spinning around
8. used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction
   • wandering about with no place to go
   • people were rushing about
   • news gets around (or about)
   • traveled around in Asia
   • he needs advice from someone who's been around
   • she sleeps around
9. by a circular or circuitous route
   • He came all the way around the base
   • the road goes around the pond
10. in the area or vicinity
    • a few spectators standing about
    • hanging around
    • waited around for the next flight