Around meaning

What does “around” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“around” is an adverb with 10 meanings. Its most common meaning is: in the area or vicinity.

around

in the area or vicinity
“a few spectators standing about”
“hanging around”
Synonymsabout
by a circular or circuitous route
“He came all the way around the base”
“the road goes around the pond”
used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction
“wandering about with no place to go”
“people were rushing about”
Synonymsabout
in a circle or circular motion
“The wheels are spinning around”
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
“lasted approximately an hour”
“in just about a minute”
Synonymsapproximately about close to just about some roughly more or less or so
in or to a reversed position or direction
“about face”
“suddenly she turned around”
Synonymsabout
to a particular destination either specified or understood
“she came around to see me”
“I invited them around for supper”
all around or on all sides
“dirty clothes lying around (or about)”
“let's look about for help”
Synonymsabout
in circumference
“the trunk is ten feet around”
“the pond is two miles around”
from beginning to end; throughout
“It rains all year round on Skye”
“frigid weather the year around”
Synonymsround

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University