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 or throughout.

Adj

1. (informal, not-comparable, predicative) Present in the vicinity.
2. (informal, not-comparable, predicative) Alive; existing.

Adv

1. (not-comparable) So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof.
2. (not-comparable) So as to surround or be near.
3. (not-comparable) Nearly; approximately; about.
4. (not-comparable) From place to place.
5. (not-comparable) From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement.
6. (not-comparable, usually) So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction.
7. (not-comparable) Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people.
8. (not-comparable) Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity.

Synonyms

about

approximately

round

surrounding

roughly

near

all around

some

nearby

circa

over

nearly

close to

surround

along

on all sides

or so

beside

encircling

across

throughout

close

at

just about

round about

all over

everywhere

more or less

almost

circum

toward

towards

through

around here

in attendance

be present

among

loosely

in the vicinity

contract

context

before it

concerning

because of

closely

just

in all directions

circumference

circularly

at hand

Translations

environ

autour

intorno

alrededor

à peu près

ungefähr

alrededor de

attorno

vers

circa

um

rondom

etwa

herum

om

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈɹaʊnd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: arounde

Inherited from Old English: a-

Inherited from Middle English: round

Cognate with Scots: aroond

Cognate with Middle English: umbe

Cognate with Old English: ymbe

In summary

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”)).

Sentences

Maybe it was because they moved around so much .

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

Perhaps , we could meet at the institute around noon since I have a few things I need to attend to first .

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

There's something funny going on around here .

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