Meaning of around in English

1. Pronunciation

   /əˈraʊnd/

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1. Adverb

   around

   Etymology

   Middle English: from a-‘in, on’ + round

   Definitions

   1. in the area or vicinity

   Examples

   • « a few spectators standing about »
   • « hanging around »
   • « waited around for the next flight »
2. 2. by a circular or circuitous route

   Examples

   • « He came all the way around the base »
   • « the road goes around the pond »
3. 3. to or among many different places or in no particular direction

   Examples

   • « wandering about with no place to go »
   • « people were rushing about »
   • « news gets around (or about) »
   • « traveled around in Asia »
   • « he needs advice from someone who's been around »
   • « she sleeps a »
4. 4. in a circle or circular motion

   Examples

   • « The wheels are spinning around »
5. 5. (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct

   Examples

   • « lasted approximately an hour »
   • « in just about a minute »
   • « he's about 30 years old »
   • « I've had about all I can stand »
   • « we meet about once a month »
   • « some forty people came »
   • « weighs around a hundre »
6. 6. in or to a reversed position or direction

   Examples

   • « about face »
   • « brought the ship about »
   • « suddenly she turned around »
7. 7. to a particular destination either specified or understood

   Examples

   • « she came around to see me »
   • « I invited them around for supper »
8. 8. all around or on all sides

   Examples

   • « dirty clothes lying around (or about) »
   • « let's look about for help »
   • « There were trees growing all around »
   • « she looked around her »
9. 9. in circumference

   Examples

   • « the trunk is ten feet around »
   • « the pond is two miles around »
10. 10. from beginning to end

    Examples

    • « throughout »
    • « It rains all year round on Skye »
    • « frigid weather the year around »