Around (Adverb)
Meaning 1
In or to a reversed position or direction; "about face"; "suddenly she turned around".
Examples
- She quickly turned around when she heard the door slam shut behind her.
- He spun around in his chair when someone called his name.
- The car turned around in the middle of the road, driving back the way it came.
- When she realized she was going the wrong way, she turned around and headed in the opposite direction.
- The plane turned around mid-flight and returned to the airport due to bad weather.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "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 hundred pounds"; "roughly $3,000"; "holds 3 gallons, more or less"; "20 or so people were at the party".
Examples
- I read about ten books last year.
- It was around twenty people that I invited.
- There were about fifty kids at the school party.
- It should cost around two hundred dollars to get that done.
- She weighs around five five, is roughly sixty five pounds.
Synonyms
Meaning 3
To a particular destination either specified or understood; "she came around to see me"; "I invited them around for supper".
Examples
- She came around to see me after the party.
- I invited them around for supper on Friday night.
- The guests will be coming around for dinner at 7.
- She will be coming around to see the new baby.
- I invited them around for a barbecue on the weekend.
Meaning 4
All around or on all sides; "dirty clothes lying around (or about)"; "let's look about for help"; "There were trees growing all around"; "she looked around her".
Examples
- Dirty socks were lying around the bedroom floor.
- The new office building has cafes all around the neighborhood.
- Trees and flowers were growing all around the cottage.
- There were pictures hanging around the living room walls.
- The old man looked around his overgrown garden with dismay.
Synonyms
Meaning 5
In a circle or circular motion; "The wheels are spinning around".
Examples
- The children are running around the playground.
- The planet orbits around the sun.
- The dog is chasing its tail around in circles.
- The teacher walked around the room to help the students.
- The carousel horses move around in a circular motion.
Meaning 6
In circumference; "the trunk is ten feet around"; "the pond is two miles around".
Examples
- The small lake in our backyard is only 100 feet around at its widest point.
- The statue was four feet tall and almost two feet around its thickest section.
- Our village is situated about a mile and a half around from north to south.
- She slowly measured the tree to find out it was about twelve feet around.
- The circumference of the garden is supposedly a couple of miles around.
Meaning 7
By a circular or circuitous route; "He came all the way around the base"; "the road goes around the pond".
Examples
- The scenic route goes around the mountain.
- The path around the lake is perfect for a walk.
- The highway goes around the city to avoid traffic.
- The trail around the hill is steep and narrow.
- The road around the park is closed for maintenance.
Meaning 8
From beginning to end; throughout; "It rains all year round on Skye"; "frigid weather the year around".
Examples
- Visitors at the art exhibition walk around admiring and analysing all artwork available there.
- No business leader starts one career high: change may circle leadership developments completely the year around.
- It hails hard on Christmas around our neighborhood as far back as kids can remember
- We put salt around everywhere for safety on the pathways during winters as older people often visit this park.
- It can also be difficult carrying excess weight the year around when experiencing life for real.
Synonyms
Meaning 9
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"; "news gets around (or about)"; "traveled around in Asia"; "he needs advice from someone who's been around"; "she sleeps around".
Synonyms
Meaning 10
In the area or vicinity; "a few spectators standing about"; "hanging around"; "waited around for the next flight".
Examples
- The children were playing around the swings in the park.
- A few stragglers were still standing around after the party ended.
- We'll hang around the lobby and wait for our tour guide.
- She likes to keep some extra money around for emergencies.
- Several witnesses were hanging around the scene of the accident.