encompass

verb

en·​com·​pass in-ˈkəm-pəs 

en-

also -ˈkäm-

encompassed; encompassing; encompasses

transitive verb

1

: to include as a part of a whole or group

a plan that encompasses a number of aims

The ranch encompasses more than 2,500 acres of prime forest …

—Stuart D. Strahl

That success soon mushroomed into an empire encompassing toys, games, animations and all manner of consumer gewgaws.

—Charlie Campbell

2

a

: envelop

A thick fog encompassed the city.

b

: to form a circle about : enclose

a small village encompassed by mountains

c

obsolete : to travel completely around

3

dated : bring about, accomplish

… Jiu Jitsu, the … art of making an opponent use his strength to encompass his own defeat.

—TIME

encompassment

in-ˈkəm-pə-smənt 

en-

also -ˈkäm-

noun

Synonyms of encompass

• surround
• encircle

Examples of encompass in a Sentence

The district encompasses most of the downtown area.

a neighborhood encompassed by a highway

Recent Examples on the Web

The Bhagat Singh project joins a Historyverse slate that already encompasses titles drawn from Indian mythology and history, including projects centered on Shivaji and Swami Samarth. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Just north of the city is the massive Montesinho Natural Park, one of Portugal’s largest, encompassing two mountains. — Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026

The project encompasses building a fiber optic cable network spanning 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) across Syria to a submarine cable landing station at Tartus on the Mediterranean, with connections to Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026

The first phase, which the developer plans to wrap in the fourth quarter of 2027, encompasses 48 units in a mix of two- and three-bedroom configurations, alongside a daycare, community space and service center for CATCH and Terry Reilly. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Rhymes for encompass

• compass
• rumpus

Kids Definition

encompass

verb

en·​com·​pass in-ˈkəm-pəs 

-ˈkäm-

1

: to form a circle about : surround

2

a

: to cover or surround especially so as to hide or protect

b

: to take in as a part : include

encompassment

-mənt 

noun