roundabout

9 synonyms and 1 antonym for roundabout, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A road junction where traffic circles around a central island instead of stopping at lights.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

circle

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

rotary

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

carousel carrousel whirligig traffic circle merry-go-round circuitous devious

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A road junction where traffic circles around a central island instead of stopping at lights.

“Take the third exit at the roundabout.”

circle rotary carousel carrousel whirligig traffic circle merry-go-round

2. adjective

Indirect or longer than necessary; not going straight to the point.

“He gave a roundabout answer instead of just saying no.”

circuitous devious

Opposites

direct

How to use roundabout

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

roundabout way take the roundabout a roundabout answer

Etymology

From round + about, describing something that goes around rather than straight through.

Full origin of roundabout →

Frequently asked questions

What does “roundabout” mean?

The word “roundabout” means a road junction where traffic circles around a central island instead of stopping at lights. In plain terms, either the traffic circle/playground ride, or (as an adjective) indirect and not straightforward.

How do you pronounce “roundabout”?

“Roundabout” is pronounced ROWN-duh-bowt (/ˈɹaʊndəˌbaʊt/ in IPA).

How do you use “roundabout” in a sentence?

Here is “roundabout” used in a sentence: “Take the third exit at the roundabout.”

What part of speech is “roundabout”?

Depending on how it is used, “roundabout” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “roundabout” a common word?

“Roundabout” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “roundabout” have?

“Roundabout” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a road junction where traffic circles around a central island instead of stopping at lights.

Related words

swings and roundabouts

People also searched

direct circle rotary circuitous whirligig carousel devious

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of roundabout