circle

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noun, often attributive cir·cle \ ˈsər-kəl \

Definition of circle

1 a :ring, halo

b :a closed plane (see ⁵plane 2b) curve every point of which is equidistant (see equidistant 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 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 2

Traffic slowed down around the circle.

4 :an area of action or influence :realm

within the circle of probability

5 a :cycle, round

the wheel has come full circle

b :fallacious reasoning in which something to be demonstrated is covertly assumed

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.

See circle defined for English-language learners

See circle defined for kids

Examples of circle in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of circle from the Web

Their cousins are prominent venture capitalists and senior technology executives at Intel Corp. and Alphabet Inc. Barry Diller, the billionaire media mogul, recruited Khosrowshahi into his inner circle during the dot-com frenzy in the late 1990s.

— eric newcomer, Bloomberg.com, "New Uber CEO Hints at 2019 IPO as He Takes Over Troubled Startup," 30 Aug. 2017
Enjoy live Middle Eastern music, belly dancers, Dead Sea exfoliating mud scrub, Mediterranean bites and an interactive drum circle.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "What to do with the kids this weekend: Free zoo, bowling and crafts events," 30 Aug. 2017
Ambitious cyclists can connect to trails to the Mississippi, circle north and east, head south to the Lakefront Path, then use on-street bike lanes back to the Burnham.

— mary wisniewski, chicagotribune.com, "South suburban trail held up almost 4 years by railroad dispute," 27 Aug. 2017
Peyton said, spinning in a slow circle on the hardwood floors.

— alden woods, azcentral, "$200 from home: Renters in the housing crisis are often stuck between help and affordability," 17 Aug. 2017
Ingrid aspires to be the same by infiltrating Taylor's circle (in an effort that includes spying on her and stealing her dog—only to return it and get an invite into her home).

— kristen yoonsoo kim, Esquire, "Aubrey Plaza's Ingrid Goes West Character Is the Actress at Her Best," 16 Aug. 2017
The most logical acquisition, which has already been talked about in baseball circles, would be trading for rental right-hander Marco Estrada from the Blue Jays, who is coming off a solid outing against the Yankees.

— ryan divish, The Seattle Times, "There’s plenty of cheap pitchers out there for the Mariners to pursue," 12 Aug. 2017
Family members, neighbors, school friends and strangers held hands to form a prayer circle in the front yard to welcome Eric James Cole's family back to their home for the first time since the boy died.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "4-year-old's accidental gunshot death mourned by family, friends," 9 Aug. 2017
Dark under-eye circles denote true dedication to the cause.

— loren dejonge schulman, The Atlantic, "Can This National Security Council Handle a Real Crisis?," 4 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'circle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of circle

Origin and Etymology of circle

Middle English cercle, from Anglo-French, from Latin circulus, diminutive of circus circle, circus, from or akin to Greek krikos, kirkos ring; akin to Old English hring ring — more at ring

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

circle Synonyms

Synonyms

cirque, ring, round, roundel

Related Words

circlet, ringlet; ellipse, loop, oval; ball, globe, orb, sphere

Near Antonyms

loner; individualist

circle

verb

Definition of circle

circled; circling play \-k(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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

2 :to describe or extend in a circle

the lighthouse sent out its slow steady circling beam
—R. O. Bowen

—

circler

play \-k(ə-)lər\ noun

See circle defined for English-language learners

Examples of circle in a Sentence

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 of circle from the Web

All the while, Kenny says, hovercraft skimmed over the water and Coast Guard helicopters circled over their apartment building, dipping low.

— laura ungar, The Courier-Journal, "'Stay safe, little brother' – Hurricane Harvey traps Courier-Journal reporter's sibling," 29 Aug. 2017
Torah knows that one who is wise of heart circles her gate every day.

— arthur green, The Atlantic, "Restoring Kabbalah to Mainstream Judaism," 25 Aug. 2017
The prep time before the group of judges circles up at one's car can be laden with anxiety.

— hannah elliott, Bloomberg.com, "Get Up Close and Personal With the World’s Top Classic Cars," 21 Aug. 2017
The ongoing search for a new highway superintendent circled back to the county's own highway department.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "Department employee picked for superintendent's job," 21 Aug. 2017
Countering them were about a dozen men waving Confederate flags, and others circled the square flying Rebel flags on motorcycles and from car windows.

— lee roop, AL.com, "Huntsville police separate pro- and anti-Confederate memorial protesters," 19 Aug. 2017
Pieces of the metal barricade still circled Lee Park, recently renamed Emancipation Park, where a statue of Confederate hero Robert E. Lee has stood since the 1920s.

— sarah ellison, The Hive, "Why Charlottesville, Liberal College Town, Became Ground Zero for White Supremacy," 15 Aug. 2017
Flying at altitudes of 13,000 to 15,000 feet, the King Air can circle far above air tankers and firefighting helicopters, smoke plumes and low clouds.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Military technology tested to track, map wildfires," 10 Aug. 2017
One person who Trump does not think is Making America Great Again is Mueller, whose investigation is assiduously circling the president and his inner circle.

— vanityfair.com, "Under Fire, Trump Rages Against His Russia Investigators," 20 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of circle

see ¹circle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

circle Synonyms

Synonyms

surround, compass, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), encompass, environ, gird, girdle, ring, wreathe

Related Words

circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall; beset, besiege, entrench (also intrench), invest, swarm

CIRCLE Defined for English Language Learners

circle

play

noun

Definition of circle for English Language Learners

: a perfectly round shape : a line that is curved so that its ends meet and every point on the line is the same distance from the center
: a path that goes around a central point
: an arrangement of people or things that forms a circle

circle

verb

Definition of circle for English Language Learners

: to form a circle around (something)
: to draw a circle around (something)
: to move or go around (someone or something) in a circle

CIRCLE Defined for Kids

circle

play

noun cir·cle \ ˈsər-kəl \

Definition of circle for Students

1 :a line that is curved so that its ends meet and every point on the line is the same distance from the center

2 :something in the form of a circle or part of a circle

We gathered in a circle around the fireplace.

3 :¹cycle 2, round

The wheel has come full circle.

4 :a group of people sharing a common interest

a reading circle

a circle of friends

circle

verb

Definition of circle for Students

circled; circling

1 :to form or draw a circle around

Circle the correct answers.

2 :to move or revolve around

Satellites circle the earth.

3 :to move in or as if in a circle

Vultures circled overhead.

Medical Dictionary

circle

play

noun cir·cle \ ˈsər-kəl \

medical Definition of circle

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

Learn More about circle

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circle

Definition of circle

circler

Examples of circle in a Sentence

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CIRCLE Defined for English Language Learners

circle

Definition of circle for English Language Learners

circle

Definition of circle for English Language Learners

CIRCLE Defined for Kids

circle

Definition of circle for Students

circle

Definition of circle for Students

Medical Dictionary

circle

medical Definition of circle

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