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
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and María Luisa Manrique de Lara y Gonzaga (a rather pompous name that encompassed two major hereditary estates, a principality, a county, a marquisate, and, for a time, a viceroyalty) met in 1680 in Mexico City.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Kim explores social and historical themes including modernization, militarism, and migration through a practice encompassing sound, video, and installation art.
—News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2025
Her district includes parts of Weld and Douglas Counties, encompassing rural eastern Colorado and suburban areas.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
According to its website, its jurisdiction encompasses the entire state of Louisiana, all areas south of the 33rd parallel in Mississippi, and a 60-mile radius around Mobile within Alabama boundaries.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encompass
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Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Kim explores social and historical themes including modernization, militarism, and migration through a practice encompassing sound, video, and installation art.
—News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2025
Her district includes parts of Weld and Douglas Counties, encompassing rural eastern Colorado and suburban areas.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
According to its website, its jurisdiction encompasses the entire state of Louisiana, all areas south of the 33rd parallel in Mississippi, and a 60-mile radius around Mobile within Alabama boundaries.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encompass
Cite this Entry
“Encompass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encompass. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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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