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
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The View From 2028 One Democratic political strategist with no ties to Moore suggested that the intense focus on Moore’s bio now could be helpful to him in a roundabout way.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Aya Batrawy, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
An earlier version of the neighborhood improvement plan presented to the City Council in 2018 included a proposal for two roundabouts — the one at Cannon and another one a block south at Cerezo Drive — but only the Cannon roundabout was approved.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
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Adjective
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
The View From 2028 One Democratic political strategist with no ties to Moore suggested that the intense focus on Moore’s bio now could be helpful to him in a roundabout way.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
Relics like the more than century-old Greek Club's veranda that overlooks a roundabout with a bronze statue of Talaat Harb, who championed Egyptian economic independence from foreign influence.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
An earlier version of the neighborhood improvement plan presented to the City Council in 2018 included a proposal for two roundabouts — the one at Cannon and another one a block south at Cerezo Drive — but only the Cannon roundabout was approved.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 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 11 Apr. 2026.
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