round·about
ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t 
: circuitous, indirect
had to take a roundabout route
roundaboutness
noun
1
: a circuitous route : detour
2
British
: merry-go-round
3
: a short close-fitting jacket worn by men and boys especially in the 19th century
4
Examples of roundabout in a Sentence
Adjective
He took a roundabout route to town.
In a roundabout way, he told me that my help was not wanted.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Neighborhoods like those off El Camino del Norte are also impacted by the high speeds and high volumes of cut-through commuter traffic, which the roundabout hopes to help solve by keeping traffic flowing through the intersection.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The idea is to transform the historic roundabout and connect the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch to Prospect Park by removing the roadway between Union Street and Eastern Parkway, a busy crossroads connecting two neighborhoods and tens of thousands of people every day.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
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Adjective
While looking for the vehicle in the roundabout nearby, the officer noticed the BMW was in a canal on the north side of Loxahatchee Road.
—Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Neighborhoods like those off El Camino del Norte are also impacted by the high speeds and high volumes of cut-through commuter traffic, which the roundabout hopes to help solve by keeping traffic flowing through the intersection.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
The county Department of Transportation announced the elements of its $98 million 2026 construction program, including 14 miles of road resurfacing, three new roundabouts, and the completion of two notable projects carried over from 2025.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The idea is to transform the historic roundabout and connect the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch to Prospect Park by removing the roadway between Union Street and Eastern Parkway, a busy crossroads connecting two neighborhoods and tens of thousands of people every day.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
Cite this Entry
“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundabout. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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