circumnavigate

verb

cir·​cum·​nav·​i·​gate ˌsər-kəm-ˈna-və-ˌgāt How to pronounce circumnavigate (audio)
circumnavigated; circumnavigating; circumnavigates

transitive verb

: to go completely around especially by water
circumnavigate the earth
also : to go around instead of through : bypass
circumnavigate a congested area
circumnavigation noun
circumnavigator noun

Examples of circumnavigate in a Sentence

The ship circumnavigated the world. the first ship to circumnavigate the globe
Recent Examples on the Web On Thursday, the 29-year-old sailor become the first American woman to circumnavigate the globe alone and nonstop, The Washington Post reported. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 The Red Devils have a difficult number of weeks to circumnavigate without their high-flying number nine. Liam Canning, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 As the train circumnavigates the globe, Curtis Everette (Chris Evans) leads a group of disenfranchised passengers through the cars in an attempt to take down society’s elite, who live in luxurious compartments at the front of the vehicle. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 25 Jan. 2024 Scott wears a cravat and circumnavigates the space coolly. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2024 Pick a beach club and lounge for the day on Playa Norte, or rent a golf cart to circumnavigate the island and discover its breathtaking vistas. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2024 If completed, their trip would’ve clinched Earhart as the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024 The British explorer Ranulph Fiennes is the first person to have crossed Antarctica on foot and the only living person to have circumnavigated the planet by its poles. Dominic Green, WSJ, 12 Jan. 2024 Santa’s reindeer spend the offseason resting up, getting ready for the grueling feat of circumnavigating the globe in a single night. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'circumnavigate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin circumnavigatus, past participle of circumnavigare to sail around, from circum- + navigare to navigate

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of circumnavigate was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near circumnavigate

Cite this Entry

“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumnavigate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

circumnavigate

verb
cir·​cum·​nav·​i·​gate ˌsər-kəm-ˈnav-ə-ˌgāt How to pronounce circumnavigate (audio)
: to go completely around especially by water
circumnavigate the earth
also : to go around instead of through : bypass
circumnavigation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on circumnavigate

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