full circle

adverb

: through a series of developments that lead back to the original source, position, or situation or to a complete reversal of the original position

—usually used in the phrase come full circle

Examples of full circle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Patient beds lined every possible area, with a full circle of beds surrounding the staff workstations in the center of the bay. — Brittany Trang, STAT, 9 Sep. 2026

Rosales long dreamed of being invited to the Biennale, and the full circle nature of it, the Venice, California, to Venice, Italy, of it all, is dizzying. — Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Yet for all this organic, somewhat unplanned process, there was always a moment where the show would come full circle. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

That would take the story full circle as The Invite was born as a Spanish stage play called The Neighbors Upstairs (Los vecinos de arriba) by playwright, director and filmmaker Cesc Gay. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for full circle

• cercle
• encircle
• tubercle
• preopercle
• semicircle