around

Meaning

Prep

1. Forming a circle or closed curve containing (something).
2. Centred upon; surrounding; regarding.
3. Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point.
4. Following a path which curves near an object, with the object on the inside of the curve.
5. Near; in the vicinity of.
6. At or to various places within.

Adj

1. (informal) Present in the vicinity.
2. (informal) Alive; existing.

Adv

1. So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof.
2. So as to surround or be near.
3. Nearly; approximately; about.
4. From place to place.
5. From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement.
6. So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction.
7. Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people.
8. Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity.

Hyphenated as

a‧round

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈɹaʊnd/

Etymology

From Middle English around, arounde, from a- (from Old English a- (“on, at”)) + Middle English round (“circle, round”) borrowed from French, equivalent to a- + round. Cognate with Scots aroond, aroon (“around”). Displaced earlier Middle English umbe, embe (“around”) (from Old English ymbe (“around”)). See umbe.

Sentences

Maybe it was because they moved around so much .

His father introduced him to boxing around the age of seven .

He looked around at the empty plaza again , feeling less desperate than before .

Gray paint stretched for miles around .

The time must have been somewhere around six o'clock .

Much of the economic activity in the area centers around the outdoors .

Sailing is in the family around Breault .