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
Ari Koeppel, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 2025
In their lawsuits, the GOP states had argued that Biden, with SAVE, was trying to find a roundabout way to forgive student debt after the Supreme Court blocked his sweeping debt cancellation plan in June 2023.
—Annie Nova, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2025
Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Dec. 2025
About halfway through the tunnel, drivers will encounter a vast underground double roundabout located 853 feet (260 meters) below sea level.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
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Adjective
After a yearslong series of setbacks, NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, or ESCAPADE, mission has finally begun its roundabout journey to Mars.
—Ari Koeppel, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 2025
In their lawsuits, the GOP states had argued that Biden, with SAVE, was trying to find a roundabout way to forgive student debt after the Supreme Court blocked his sweeping debt cancellation plan in June 2023.
—Annie Nova, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2025
Noun
The roundabouts should open by summer 2027, according to the state.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Dec. 2025
About halfway through the tunnel, drivers will encounter a vast underground double roundabout located 853 feet (260 meters) below sea level.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roundabout
Cite this Entry
“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundabout. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
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