cir·cum·nav·i·gate
ˌsər-kəm-ˈna-və-ˌgāt 
circumnavigated; circumnavigating; circumnavigates
: to go completely around especially by water
circumnavigate the earth
cir·cum·nav·i·ga·tor
¦sər-kəm-¦na-və-ˌgā-tər
plural -s
: one that circumnavigates an object (as the earth)
disputed that Magellan was the first circumnavigator
Examples of circumnavigate in a Sentence
Verb
The ship circumnavigated the world.
the first ship to circumnavigate the globe
Recent Examples on the Web
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
The menu from chef Reneé Touponce and beverage director Jade Ayala, both James Beard Award–recognized, likewise circumnavigated the globe.
—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
Havertz might be preferred at No 9 given the technical level of Arsenal’s opposition, as well as PSG’s pressing capabilities, which might require longer passes into the front line to circumnavigate.
—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
The first Global Ocean Sampling Expedition, which used Venter’s own yacht, circumnavigated the globe between 2005 and 2006.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
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Verb
Chicagoan Bill Pinkney sailed into Boston Harbor having circumnavigated the globe all by himself, the third American and the first Black person to have accomplished the feat by taking a route that included the five southernmost capes.
—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
The menu from chef Reneé Touponce and beverage director Jade Ayala, both James Beard Award–recognized, likewise circumnavigated the globe.
—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
Havertz might be preferred at No 9 given the technical level of Arsenal’s opposition, as well as PSG’s pressing capabilities, which might require longer passes into the front line to circumnavigate.
—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
The first Global Ocean Sampling Expedition, which used Venter’s own yacht, circumnavigated the globe between 2005 and 2006.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumnavigate
Cite this Entry
“Circumnavigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumnavigate. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
circumnavigate
verb
cir·cum·nav·i·gate
ˌsər-kəm-ˈnav-ə-ˌgāt
: to go completely around especially by water
circumnavigate the earth
also
: to go around instead of through : bypass
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