around
uh-ROWND
Around (prep) means Positioned so as to surround or encircle something. Example: “She wrapped a warm scarf around her neck before stepping into the snow.”
prep
1
Positioned so as to surround or encircle something.
"She wrapped a warm scarf around her neck before stepping into the snow."
"The children gathered around the campfire to hear the story."
"A fence was built around the property for security."
2
Roughly, or in the general area of (a place, time, or amount).
"We should arrive around six o'clock."
"The meeting should finish around noon if nobody talks too long."
"There were around thirty people waiting outside the hall."
adv
1
From place to place, without a fixed destination; or, present nearby.
"The dog ran around the garden all afternoon, sniffing every corner and bush."
"She spent the afternoon just wandering around town."
"Is anyone else around, or am I the first one here?"
How to use around
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSurrounding something, roughly (a time/amount), or moving/existing without a fixed point — depends heavily on context.
Common pairings
around the corner
around town
around six o'clock
stick around
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like around.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wrapped a warm scarf _____ her neck before stepping into the snow.
Etymology
From Middle English around, formed from a- ("on, at") plus round.
Synonyms
View more →
round
surrounding
encircling
about
enclosing
some
approximately
roughly
or so
close to
just about
more or less
Related words
Rhymes for around
See all rhymes for around →Frequently asked questions
What does “around” mean?
The word “around” means positioned so as to surround or encircle something. In plain terms, surrounding something, roughly (a time/amount), or moving/existing without a fixed point — depends heavily on context.
How do you pronounce “around”?
“Around” is pronounced uh-ROWND (/əˈɹaʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “around” in a sentence?
Here is “around” used in a sentence: “The children gathered around the campfire to hear the story.”
What part of speech is “around”?
Depending on how it is used, “around” can be a preposition and an adverb.
Where does the word “around” come from?
The word “around” comes from Middle English. From Middle English around, formed from a- ("on, at") plus round.
Is “around” a common word?
“Around” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “around” have?
“Around” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: positioned so as to surround or encircle something.
What is the difference between 'around' and 'round'?
In American English, 'around' is standard for both movement and position — walking around the block or sitting around a table. British English often shortens this to 'round' in the same situations, keeping 'around' more for approximate amounts and vaguer locations. The meanings overlap almost completely, so the choice is largely one of regional habit.
What is an example of 'around' meaning to surround?
In the sentence 'the children gathered around the campfire,' the word shows them positioned on all sides of it, forming a rough circle. Likewise, 'a fence runs around the garden' means it encircles the space. In this sense, 'around' describes something enclosing or ringing a central point.
Is 'around' a preposition or an adverb?
It can be both. As a preposition it takes an object — 'she wrapped a scarf around her neck.' As an adverb it stands alone — 'he turned around.' The surrounding or encircling meaning appears in both roles, so the same word simply shifts function depending on the sentence.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include around:
