Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Surrounded on all sides; enclosed within a circle or ring: The state of being completely enclosed or bounded by something that forms a circle around the object or area.
   • Confined or hemmed in: The condition of being confined with no apparent exit due to being surrounded.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The ancient castle was encircled by a deep moat.
  • The police had the suspect encircled, leaving no route for escape.
  • A feeling of peace enveloped the encircled garden.

Advanced Usage

• "to find oneself encircled": To discover that one is surrounded, often unexpectedly.
  • The hikers found themselves encircled by a dense fog and had to wait for it to lift.
• Used in military or strategic contexts to describe forces or positions.
  • The general's strategy was to keep the enemy army encircled until they surrendered.

Variants and Related Words

• Encircle (verb): To form a circle around; to surround.
  • The fans moved to encircle the stage.
• Encircling (adjective or present participle): Describing something that is in the act of surrounding.
  • The encircling walls of the city were built for defense.

Synonyms

• Surrounded: Enclosed on all sides.
• Encompassed: Surrounded or enclosed completely.
• Ringed: Formed into or surrounded by a ring.

Related Phrases

• Encircled by/in [something]: A common collocation describing what is doing the surrounding.
  • The village was encircled in a ring of mountains.
  • She felt encircled by love and support from her friends.

Related Idioms

• To draw a circle around: While not an idiom with "encircled," the concept is similar to "to circle the wagons," which means to prepare for a problem or threat by forming a defensive group.
  • When the scandal broke, the company's executives circled the wagons. (This idiom implies creating a defensive, encircling formation.)

Adjective

1. confined on all sides
   • a camp surrounded by enemies
   • the encircled pioneers