prep

around

uh-ROWND

prep

Positioned so as to surround or encircle something.

"The children gathered around the campfire to hear the story."

"A fence was built around the property for security."

Roughly, or in the general area of (a place, time, or amount).

"We should arrive around six o'clock."

adv

From place to place, without a fixed destination; or, present nearby.

"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 notes

In 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

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “around” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

The children gathered _____ the campfire to hear the story.

From Middle English around, formed from a- ("on, at") plus round.

pound wound sound bound found round hound mound abound ground rebound impound