round

1 of 6

adjective

1
a(1)
: having every part of the surface or circumference equidistant from the center
(2)
: cylindrical
a round peg
b
: approximately round
a round face
2
: well filled out : plump, shapely
3
a
: complete, full
a round dozen
a round ton
b
: approximately correct
especially : exact only to a specific decimal or place
use the round number 1400 for the exact figure 1411
c
: substantial in amount : ample
a good round priceT. B. Costain
4
: direct in utterance : outspoken
a round denunciation
5
: moving in or forming a circle
6
a
: brought to completion or perfection : finished
b
: presented with lifelike fullness or vividness
7
: delivered with a swing of the arm
a round blow
8
a
: having full or unimpeded resonance or tone : sonorous
b
: pronounced with rounded lips : labialized
9
: of or relating to handwriting predominantly curved rather than angular
roundness noun

round

2 of 6

adverb

: around

round

3 of 6

noun

1
a
: something (such as a circle, globe, or ring) that is round
b(1)
: a knot of people
(2)
: a circle of things
2
3
: a musical canon in which each part begins on the same note and is continuously repeated
4
a
: a rung of a ladder or a chair
b
: a rounded molding
5
a
: a circling or circuitous path or course
b
: motion in a circle or a curving path
6
a
: a route or circuit habitually covered (as by a security guard or police officer)
b
: a series of similar or customary calls or stops
They were always together, fighting to cure paralysis. An endless round of fundraisers, Congressional testimony.Diane Sawyer
often used in plural
You see, in election time local politicians, aspirants for office, have a way of making the rounds of the saloons to get votes.Jack London
… no one … was surprised to see him making the TV news rounds within hours of his announced termination …Kristi Owram
especially : a series of regularly scheduled professional calls on hospital patients made by a doctor or nurse
usually used in plural
… if laboratory test results are not available to physicians when they make their routine morning rounds, they may have to delay patient management, repeat their rounds at a later time, and perhaps prolong their patients' hospital stays. David A. Novis and Jane C. Dale
7
: a drink of liquor apiece served at one time to each person in a group
I'll buy the next round
8
: a sequence of recurring routine or repetitive actions or events
went about my round of chores
the newest round of talks
9
: a period of time that recurs in a fixed pattern
the daily round
10
a
: one shot fired by a weapon or by each man in a military unit
b
: a unit of ammunition consisting of the parts necessary to fire one shot
11
a
: a unit of action in a contest or game which comprises a stated period, covers a prescribed distance, includes a specified number of plays, or gives each player one turn
b
: a division of a tournament in which each contestant plays an opponent
12
: a prolonged burst (as of applause)
13
a
: a cut of meat (such as beef) especially between the rump and the lower leg see beef illustration
b
: a slice of food
a round of bread
14
: a rounded or curved part

round

4 of 6

verb (1)

rounded; rounding; rounds

transitive verb

1
a
: to make round
b(1)
: to make (the lips) round and protruded (as in the pronunciation of \ü\)
(2)
: to pronounce with lip rounding : labialize
2
a
b
: to pass part of the way around
3
4
: to bring to completion or perfection
often used with off or out
5
: to express as a round number
often used with off
11.3572 rounded off to two decimal places becomes 11.36

intransitive verb

1
a
: to become round, plump, or shapely
b
: to reach fullness or completion
2
: to follow a winding course : bend

round

5 of 6

preposition

1
: around
2
: all during : throughout
round the year

round

6 of 6

verb (2)

rounded; rounding; rounds

transitive verb

1
archaic : whisper
2
archaic : to speak to in a whisper
Phrases
in the round
1
: in full sculptured form unattached to a background
2
: with an inclusive or comprehensive view or representation
3
: with a center stage surrounded by an audience
a play presented in the round
round on
: to turn against : assail

Examples of round in a Sentence

Adjective The baby has a round face. the owl's big, round eyes a shirt with a round collar Adverb people working there all year round gather round and listen to my story Noun a round of steel to reinforce the wooden beam a busy round of parties during the holiday season Preposition talked to voters round the city
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The comal, a round griddle, is indispensable in a Salvi kitchen, said Vasquez, a cookbook author and writer. Naz Deravian, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Pustular lesions will be sharply raised, usually round, and firm to the touch. Claire Wolters, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2024 Gray and about 28 inches long by 19 inches wide and 24 inches high, the swings have a round aluminum base with music buttons on the front, a metal seat frame, a cloth seat with restraints and a headrest. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 That includes dozens of props for every major bout, including method of victory, round winners, and future opponents. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Although barrel accent chairs tend to take up more space because of their thick, round form, the Andover Mills Hansell Upholstered Swivel Barrel Chair is the perfect size for your bedroom corner, next to your living room fireplace, or in a cozy reading nook. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 The textured, round edges are soft and fun to touch and make these blocks a great sensory activity. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 But Take Note With its wide, round mouth shield, the Soothie doesn’t have the most ergonomic design for very young babies, and the silicone is a bit firmer than some other pacifiers. Sarah Bradley, Parents, 1 Mar. 2024 The reports did not explain why those amounts were in round dollars. Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024
Adverb
The conference championship round mirrored a weird postseason for me. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2024 The Texas high school girls basketball playoff area round is here, and plenty of Fort Worth teams are fighting to continue their quests for a state championship. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Feb. 2024 The idyllic courtyard blooms year round, featuring hydrangeas in May and June, bellflowers in August and September, and even winter tropical plants in January. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024 Law enforcement fired a beanbag round, according to the Sheriff’s Office, which is a pillow of pellets fired from a shotgun as a non-lethal weapon, and used tasers on him before sending the two K9s after him. Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 12 Feb. 2024 Some robins live in Michigan year round, others winter in the south and still others come here for the winter from the boreal regions of Canada. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 2 Mar. 2024 To simplify logistics this time round, Barca reportedly plans to keep its tour limited to the east coast of the United States which means that New York and Miami are prime candidates for hosting friendlies. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 McCasland was able to neutralize Ryan by shooting him with a bean bag round. The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024 Lucie and Luke Meier did at Jil Sander — all the way round the bend, in fact, cutting everything on an exaggerated curve so suits and coats and dresses resembled sci-fi bed jackets, often in cartoon colors and often quilted or padded. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024
Noun
As alliances are formed ahead of the second round, the vote could go both ways. Katarina Hoije, Bloomberg.com, 15 Mar. 2024 Those tuning in from the United Kingdom can watch on Sky Sports Golf, who will be showing coverage of the first two rounds from 11:30 a.m. Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 In his only loss of the day, Pincay finishes third aboard Bob Back in the eighth race. 1996 — Princeton upsets defending national champion UCLA, 43-41, in the first round of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 The Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball team was hoping to close the gap even further against UC Davis in the opening round of the Big West Tournament on Wednesday afternoon. Dan Arritt, Orange County Register, 14 Mar. 2024 The top six nominees from the first round of voting will be announced on April 1. Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 Cost can be a deterrent in trying multiple rounds of IVF. Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 The strikes were the first round of retaliatory action by the Biden administration for an attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 Drafted two years ago in the third round, Ridder gives the Falcons a budget-friendly option as a backup and developmental QB. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Riverside rounded out California’s top cities with 6.5 applicants. Cortlynn Stark, Sacramento Bee, 2 Mar. 2024 Joining Bali on the list is Santorini, Greece, at No. 2, scoring high marks for being home to the highest number of romantic restaurants of any location, followed by Cancun, Mexico; Venice; and Mallorca, Spain, rounding out the top five. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 In addition to sunny hot spots in California, Florida, and Hawaii, Oregon’s moody Cannon Beach secured a spot on the list and a photographer favorite, Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, also rounds out the top 10. Brittany Anas, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Kevin Kane as Terry Bruno Kevin Kane rounds out the crew of new detectives at the Manhattan Special Victims Unit in his role as Detective Terry Bruno. Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 Rhode Island, Montana, and Washington rounded out the top five. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Feb. 2024 Jonathan Banks, James D’Arcy and Will Catlett round out the cast. Anne Easton, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Mötley Crüe, Slipknot and Korn round out the top of the bill. Spin Staff, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024 Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, The Last of Us, The Bear and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit round out the TV categories. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024
Preposition
Kevin dropped onto his heels and went round the side of the house. Thomas Korsgaard, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Most companies hire freelancers all across the globe to be able to provide essay writing services round the clock and in any timezone. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024 The company confidentially filed to go public in 2021, and was valued near $10 billion in a funding round the same year. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2024 The design was understated, but distinctive with—for now, at least—a gently concave channel running round the outside. David Phelan, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Rain is likely to hit the area round 5 a.m. Tuesday morning. Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 22 Jan. 2024 Taylor Swift may not quite be wearing Travis Kelce's initial on a chain 'round her neck, but she's been wearing the next best thing: his team's logo. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024 On the silver chain round her neck hangs a gift from her husband: a pendant in the shape of the scales of justice. Ava Benny-Morrison, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023 Thankfully, getting your hands on K-beauty products nowadays does not require a trip ‘round the world. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2023
Verb
Illinois, Colorado and Missouri round out the top five. Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2023 Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett round out the ranking’s top five. Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2023 Justice Smith and Sophia Lillis round out the adventurers with Hugh Grant taking a villainous turn and without a red carpet in sight. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2023 Minnesota, Vermont, Washington and New Hampshire round out the top five, which points to states with scenic outdoor areas and active populations living longer lives. L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune Well, 1 Apr. 2023 Other cider-centric events will round out the 10 days, including bingo night, a cupcake-and-cider pairing, and a single varietal cider night, then culminating with the Hillsboro Hops’ pre-opening game party on April 10. oregonlive, 31 Mar. 2023 Nashville studio musicians Ethan Pilzer and Rich Redmond will round out the lineup on bass and drums. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2023 On the hunt for simple and beautiful Easter egg designs to round out your Easter decorations on April 9? Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 28 Mar. 2023 Elevated leather slides, perfect for an outdoor beach dinner are now 58 percent off, and athletic Under Armour sandals ready for the pool will round your vacation footwear perfectly. Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'round.' 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

Adjective

Middle English round, rounde "spherical, circular, rounded," borrowed from Anglo-French reund, rund, rount, going back to Vulgar Latin *retundus, altered (by presumed vowel dissimilation) from Latin rotundus — more at rotund

Adverb

Middle English, "in a circle," derivative of round, rounde round entry 1

Noun

Middle English rond, round, rounde "spherical body or form, circle," in part derivative of round, rounde round entry 1, in part borrowed from Anglo-French rund, rond (in en rund "round about") and runde (in a la runde "round about"), both nominal derivatives of reund, rund round entry 1

Verb (1)

Middle English rounden "to form a ball, be circular, cut (hair) close around the head," in part derivative of round round entry 1, in part borrowed from Anglo-French runder "to revolve" and Old French rondir "to make round," derivatives of rund, rond round entry 1

Preposition

derivative of round entry 2

Verb (2)

alteration of Middle English rounen, from Old English rūnian; akin to Old English rūn mystery — more at rune

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Preposition

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of round was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near round

Cite this Entry

“Round.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/round. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

round

1 of 5 adjective
1
a
: having every part of the surface or circumference the same distance from the center
b
: shaped like a cylinder
a round peg
c
: nearly round
a round face
2
3
a
: complete entry 1 sense 1
a round dozen
b
: nearly correct or exact to a certain decimal place
use the round number 1400 for the exact figure 1411
c
: large
a good round sum
4
: moving in or forming a circle
5
: having lifelike fullness
a round character in a story
6
: having fullness of tone
7
: having curves rather than angles
roundish
ˈrau̇n-dish
adjective
roundness noun

round

2 of 5 adverb

round

3 of 5 noun
1
: something (as a circle, globe, or ring) that is round
2
: a song in which three or four singers sing the same melody and words one after another at intervals
3
4
: an indirect or circling path
5
a
: a regularly covered route
a watchman's rounds
b
: a series of calls or stops regularly made
a doctor on her rounds in the hospital
6
: a drink apiece served at one time to each person in a group
7
: a series or cycle of repeated actions or events
opened a new round of disarmament talks
8
a
: one shot fired by a soldier or weapon
b
: ammunition for one shot
9
: a unit of play in a contest or game
a round of golf
10
: a cut of beef especially between the rump and the lower leg

round

4 of 5 verb
1
a
: to make or become round
b
: to pronounce a sound with rounding of the lips
2
: to go or pass around
rounded the curve
3
: to bring to completion
often used with off or out
4
: to express as a round number
especially : to drop any digits to the right of a given decimal place and increase the last remaining digit by 1 if the first dropped digit is 5 or greater
4.57268 rounded off to three decimal places is 4.573
5
: to follow a winding course

round

5 of 5 preposition
(ˈ)rau̇nd

Medical Definition

round

intransitive verb
: to go on rounds

More from Merriam-Webster on round

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