noun
Uncommon
circling
Circling (noun) means the act of moving repeatedly in a curved path around something. Example: “The plane's circling over the airport meant a long delay.”
noun
1
The act of moving repeatedly in a curved path around something.
"The plane's circling over the airport meant a long delay."
2
A structured group activity where people sit in a circle and take turns sharing feelings, meant to build closeness or provide emotional support.
"The retreat included a circling session each evening."
How to use circling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGoing round and round something, or (in wellness settings) a group sharing exercise done sitting in a circle.
Common pairings
circling overhead
a circling practice
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like circling.
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
Word forms
- Plural
- circlings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The plane's _____ over the airport meant a long delay.
Frequently asked questions
What does “circling” mean?
The word “circling” means the act of moving repeatedly in a curved path around something. In plain terms, going round and round something, or (in wellness settings) a group sharing exercise done sitting in a circle.
How do you use “circling” in a sentence?
Here is “circling” used in a sentence: “The plane's circling over the airport meant a long delay.”
What part of speech is “circling”?
“Circling” is a noun.
Is “circling” a common word?
“Circling” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “circling” have?
“Circling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of moving repeatedly in a curved path around something.
