Illustration of circle
- AB diameter
- C center
- CD CA CB radii
- EKF arc on chord EF
- EFKL (area) segment on chord EF
- ACD (area) sector
- GH secant
- TPM tangent at point P
- EKFBPDA circumference
often attributive
1
b
: a closed plane (see plane entry 6 sense 2b) curve every point of which is equidistant (see equidistant sense 1) from a fixed point within the curve
c
: the plane surface bounded by such a curve
2
archaic
: the orbit of a celestial body
3
: something in the form of a circle or section of a circle: such as
a
: diadem
b
: an instrument of astronomical observation the graduated (see graduated sense 2a) limb of which consists of an entire circle
c
: a balcony or tier of seats in a theater
d
: a circle formed on the surface of a sphere by the intersection of a plane that passes through it
circle of latitude
e
: rotary sense 2
Traffic slowed down around the circle.
4
: an area of action or influence : realm
within the circle of probability
5
6
: a group of persons sharing a common interest or revolving about a common center
the sewing circle of her church
family circle
the gossip of court circles
political, social, and literary circles
7
: a territorial or administrative division or district
The province is divided into nine circles.
8
: a curving side street
lived on Kimberly Circle
9
: a circular course or path
The children ran in circles around the tree.
The conversation kept going in circles, and nothing got accomplished.
circled; circling
ˈsər-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to enclose in or as if in a circle
The teacher circled the misspelled words.
2
: to move or revolve around
satellites circling the earth
1
a
: to move in or as if in a circle
The airplane circled around over the airport.
b
: circulate
thy name shall circle round the gaping throng—
Lord Byron
Lord Byron
c
: to circle around before making an attack
sharks circling in the water
2
: to describe or extend in a circle
the lighthouse sent out its slow steady circling beam—R. O. Bowen
R. O. BowenSynonyms
Examples of circle in a Sentence
Noun
She drew a circle around the correct answer.
We formed a circle around the campfire.
He looked old and tired, with dark circles under his eyes.
She has a large circle of friends.
She is well-known in banking circles.
Verb
He circled his arms around his wife's waist.
His arms circled around his wife's waist.
She circled the correct answer.
The pilot circled the airport before landing.
The halfback circled to the left.
Recent Examples on the WebSam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
If tricks are your thing, the drone can fly, circle, and do 8D flips.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 12 Apr. 2024
Isaacs was also known around coaching circles for his slick communication skills with referees and coaches that often made fans in the gym laugh.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
My first total solar eclipse experience in 2017 made for the shortest two minutes of my life: the sun transforming into a blazing diamond ring, the beautiful delirium of darkness, that perfect circle in the sky.
—Maya Silver, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2024
The curve of these tools promotes better blood flow and lymphatic drainage, which can help reduce dark circles and improve skin tone.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
Netanyahu’s circle hopes that an agreement now could revive chances of a diplomatic rapprochement with Saudi Arabia — which Washington had been attempting to broker before the Gaza war — and reverse the prime minister’s political free fall.
—Claire Parker, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Founded in Munich by Marc and his friend Wassily Kandinsky, the Blue Rider circle believed that art could not only reflect the turmoil of the times but also help point to a better future.
—Amy Crawford, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Below us was a clearing, with a circle of lean-tos at the center.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
In his mid-twenties, Nuri revisits these spaces, circling them like points of pilgrimage.
—Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024
Before circling back, the plane spent some time circling the North Sea.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
That was key as lawmakers and the governor began circling one another over not only the arena, but also the state budget once the legislative session adjourned on March 9.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
And Spot has gotten a lot better—a Spot robot takes a tumble on average once every 50 kilometers, even as the Spot fleet collectively walks enough to circle the Earth every three months.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2024
Of that total, Amazon contributed roughly 709 million pounds — enough to circle the Earth more than 800 times — in the form of its air pillow packaging.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
A week ago, the Beach were mired in a five-game losing streak to end the regular season as their Cinderella hopes seemed to be circling the drain.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024
Interested TikTok buyers are beginning to circle after the House passed a bill Wednesday that could force a sale of, or ban, the app if signed into law.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Noun
As part of that membership into an ultra-exclusive circle, the winners also receive a gold locket in the shape of the famous Masters logo — a map of the United States with a golf flag planted in Georgia.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
If tricks are your thing, the drone can fly, circle, and do 8D flips.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 12 Apr. 2024
Isaacs was also known around coaching circles for his slick communication skills with referees and coaches that often made fans in the gym laugh.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
My first total solar eclipse experience in 2017 made for the shortest two minutes of my life: the sun transforming into a blazing diamond ring, the beautiful delirium of darkness, that perfect circle in the sky.
—Maya Silver, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2024
The curve of these tools promotes better blood flow and lymphatic drainage, which can help reduce dark circles and improve skin tone.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
Netanyahu’s circle hopes that an agreement now could revive chances of a diplomatic rapprochement with Saudi Arabia — which Washington had been attempting to broker before the Gaza war — and reverse the prime minister’s political free fall.
—Claire Parker, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Founded in Munich by Marc and his friend Wassily Kandinsky, the Blue Rider circle believed that art could not only reflect the turmoil of the times but also help point to a better future.
—Amy Crawford, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Below us was a clearing, with a circle of lean-tos at the center.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Verb
Presenting Iger at Disney’s ground zero was a form of circling the wagons and putting the boss on a pedestal.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
In his mid-twenties, Nuri revisits these spaces, circling them like points of pilgrimage.
—Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024
Before circling back, the plane spent some time circling the North Sea.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
That was key as lawmakers and the governor began circling one another over not only the arena, but also the state budget once the legislative session adjourned on March 9.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
And Spot has gotten a lot better—a Spot robot takes a tumble on average once every 50 kilometers, even as the Spot fleet collectively walks enough to circle the Earth every three months.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2024
Of that total, Amazon contributed roughly 709 million pounds — enough to circle the Earth more than 800 times — in the form of its air pillow packaging.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
A week ago, the Beach were mired in a five-game losing streak to end the regular season as their Cinderella hopes seemed to be circling the drain.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024
Interested TikTok buyers are beginning to circle after the House passed a bill Wednesday that could force a sale of, or ban, the app if signed into law.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'circle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near circle
Cite this Entry
“Circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
circle
1 of 2 noun
cir·cle
ˈsər-kəl
1
b
: a line segment that is curved so that its ends meet and every point on the line is equally far away from a single point inside
c
: the flat surface enclosed by a circle
2
: something in the form of a circle
a traffic circle
3
: cycle entry 1 sense 2a, round
the wheel had come full circle
4
: a group of people sharing a common interest
our circle of friends
circle
2 of 2 verb
circled; circling
-k(ə-)liŋ
1
: to enclose in or as if in a circle
circle the correct answer
the trees circling our little house
2
: to move or revolve around
the pilot circled the field
satellites circling the earth
3
: to move in or as if in a circle
the quarterback circled to the left
Etymology
Noun
Middle English cercle "circle," from early French cercle (same meaning), derived from Latin circus "circle, ring, arena"
Medical Definition
circle
noun
cir·cle
ˈsər-kəl
1
a
: a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a fixed point within the curve
b
: the plane surface bounded by such a curve
2
: something (as an anatomical part) in the form of a circle or section of a circle
an arterial circle
see circle of willis
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