encircle

verb

en·​cir·​cle in-ˈsər-kəl 

en-

encircled; encircling; encircles

transitive verb

1

: to form a circle around : surround

2

: to pass completely around

encirclement

in-ˈsər-kəl-mənt 

en-

noun

Synonyms of encircle

• circle
• traverse
• orbit

Examples of encircle in a Sentence

A crowd of reporters encircled the mayor.

communication satellites encircling the earth

Recent Examples on the Web

Shamsan said fighting had intensified across the province as the Houthis deployed reinforcements to multiple fronts, with the city encircled on all four sides. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Phil Ochs said that the last of the idle rich and the folk singers are in a mansion being encircled tighter and tighter. — Madeline Ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

The plan could affect not only the path that encircles the park, used by large numbers of residents, but also the golf course’s historic grove of Japanese cherry trees. — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026

In 2010, Cassini watched as a giant storm formed in Saturn's northern hemisphere, then grew to encircle the entire planet through 2011. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enserclen

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for encircle

• cercle
• circle
• preopercle
• semicircle
• tubercle

Kids Definition

encircle

verb

en·​cir·​cle in-ˈsər-kəl 

1

: to form a circle around : surround

2

: to go completely around

encirclement

-mənt 

noun