encompass
verb
en·com·pass
in-ˈkəm-pəs 
en-
also -ˈkäm-
encompassed; encompassing; encompasses
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
Stuart D. StrahlThat success soon mushroomed into an empire encompassing toys, games, animations and all manner of consumer gewgaws.—Charlie Campbell
Charlie Campbell2
3
dated
: bring about, accomplish
… Jiu Jitsu, the … art of making an opponent use his strength to encompass his own defeat.—TIME
TIMEExamples of encompass in a Sentence
The district encompasses most of the downtown area.
a neighborhood encompassed by a highway
Recent Examples on the Web
Their solution targets embodied carbon, the emissions baked into the hardware before it is ever switched on, encompassing all the energy and process gases consumed in manufacturing it.
—
New Atlas,
2 July 2026
The grand French state beds of the 18th century traditionally encompassed a kit that included a bed frame, canopy, mattress, sheets, pillows, coverlet, and bolster.
—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
1 July 2026
Over the past decades, its global footprint has effectively doubled, expanding to encompass 80 countries and more than 12,000 scientists from institutions around the world, alongside educational programs that train researchers at every level.
—
Florencia Canelli,
Scientific American,
1 July 2026
Althorp House sits on an expansive 14,000-acre estate—for reference, Manhattan is around 14,600 acres—encompassing a lake, stables, an 18th-century guesthouse, a memorial temple honoring Diana, and the lush surrounding gardens.
—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for encompass
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New Atlas,
2 July 2026
The grand French state beds of the 18th century traditionally encompassed a kit that included a bed frame, canopy, mattress, sheets, pillows, coverlet, and bolster.
—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
1 July 2026
Over the past decades, its global footprint has effectively doubled, expanding to encompass 80 countries and more than 12,000 scientists from institutions around the world, alongside educational programs that train researchers at every level.
—
Florencia Canelli,
Scientific American,
1 July 2026
Althorp House sits on an expansive 14,000-acre estate—for reference, Manhattan is around 14,600 acres—encompassing a lake, stables, an 18th-century guesthouse, a memorial temple honoring Diana, and the lush surrounding gardens.
—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for encompass
Cite this Entry
“Encompass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encompass. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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