Definition Definition

Around - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'Around' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Around [ adv.]
- In a circle; circularly; on every side; round.
- In a circuit; here and there within the surrounding space; all about; as, to travel around from town to town.
- Near; in the neighborhood; as, this man was standing around when the fight took place.
2 . Around [ prep.]
- On all sides of; encircling; encompassing; so as to make the circuit of; about.
- From one part to another of; at random through; about; on another side of; as, to travel around the country; a house standing around the corner.

Meaning of 'Around' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . around [ r]
Meaning (1):
- (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
Example in sentence:
  • 20 or so people were at the party;
  • he's about 30 years old;
  • holds 3 gallons, more or less;
  • I've had about all I can stand;
  • in just about a minute;
  • lasted approximately an hour;
  • roughly $3,000;
  • some forty people came;
  • we meet about once a month;
  • weighs around a hundred pounds
Meaning (2):
- in the area or vicinity
Example in sentence:
  • a few spectators standing about;
  • hanging around;
  • waited around for the next flight
Meaning (3):
- in or to a reversed position or direction
Example in sentence:
  • about face;
  • suddenly she turned around
Meaning (4):
- all around or on all sides
Example in sentence:
  • dirty clothes lying around (or about);
  • let's look about for help;
  • she looked around her;
  • There were trees growing all around
Meaning (5):
- from beginning to end; throughout
Example in sentence:
  • frigid weather the year around;
  • It rains all year round on Skye
Meaning (6):
- by a circular or circuitous route
Example in sentence:
  • He came all the way around the base;
  • the road goes around the pond
Meaning (7):
- used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction
Example in sentence:
  • he needs advice from someone who's been around;
  • news gets around (or about);
  • people were rushing about;
  • she sleeps around;
  • traveled around in Asia;
  • wandering about with no place to go
Meaning (8):
- to a particular destination either specified or understood
Example in sentence:
  • I invited them around for supper;
  • she came around to see me
Meaning (9):
- in circumference
Example in sentence:
  • the pond is two miles around;
  • the trunk is ten feet around
Meaning (10):
- in a circle or circular motion
Example in sentence:
  • The wheels are spinning around