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

The shoe is a high-heeled sandal made of nuanced lines and subtle curves, appearing to wrap the foot in ribbon-like bands that encircle the ankle and fasten with a gold buckle. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

Ironically, the city’s position in a beautiful valley—encircled by the ridges of the Cumberland Plateau, at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains—also led to some persistent environmental issues. — Daliah Singer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Camu also notes a tree could become unstable if 1/3 or more of the tree is encircled by mushrooms, but otherwise, there’s no need to panic. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2026

To that end, Jalal told CNN, the Houthis are avoiding getting bogged down in urban fighting and trying to encircle government forces. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 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