around 1 of 3

preposition

Definition of aroundnext
1
as in near
close to I wouldn't stand around those rocks—there could be snakes under them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in throughout
in random positions within the boundaries of huge, strangely shaped rocks were scattered around the canyon floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

around

2 of 3

adverb

ə-ˈrau̇nd How to pronounce around (audio)
1
as in about
on all sides or in every direction he looked around butterflies were flying all around

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in back
toward the opposite direction she turned around and saw him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in close
at, within, or to a short distance or time our dog usually stays around our yard he'll be getting in around 6:00

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in through
from beginning to end a team that plays all year around

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in approximately
close to but not exactly there's around a hundred books still left to be packed in boxes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in everywhere
in one place and another while typewriters can still be seen around, they are no longer the common office fixtures they once were

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

around

3 of 3

adjective

as in existing
having being at the present time she's generally regarded as one of the most talented singers around

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of around
Preposition
Yoko said her daughter simply tried to prevent an agitated resident from biting others by putting her hand around the person’s chin. — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Events are centered around the equinoxes and solstices, and last four nights. — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Adverb
In total, Sure Sports is currently servicing around 50 to 100 loans worth an aggregate value between $150 million and $200 million. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026 Trump’s approval rating is near historic lows this time around, the poll found. — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
When a bat population crashes, fewer bats are around to eat bothersome insects. — The Conversation, Fortune, 14 May 2026 Winfrey isn’t the only fan of the kicks—they’re backed by podiatrists thanks to their ample arch support, plush insoles, and all-around comfort. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for around
  1. near
  2. throughout
  3. about
  4. back
  5. close
  6. through
  7. approximately
  8. everywhere
Preposition
  • After a heated debate, the State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously late Wednesday to approve the water right permit for the reservoir near the community of Maxwell.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • On the contrary, the seaMSR-100 operates near atmospheric pressure at temperatures between 600°C (1,112°F) and 700°C (1,292°F).
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of near
Preposition
  • Multiple light fixtures throughout facility lacking protective shield.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Adorable boutiques, vintage shops, and cafés are featured throughout the downtown area.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of throughout
Adverb
  • Baltzor and her husband Keith, had just finished riding a bunch of about 150 hundred head of their cattle down Highway 205 on horseback from another pasture.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Thanks to a demolition crew’s early Saturday morning implosion, an 18-story office tower that has hung over Clairmont Road in Chamblee for about five decades has been reduced to rubble.
    — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of about
Adverb
  • The Times reached out to the actor’s representatives for details including the birth date and gender of the child but did not hear back.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • An auditor flagged those expenses, and the state later clawed them back.
    — Julie Watts, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of back
Adverb
  • Kipruto won the men’s race in the event’s closest-ever finish while wearing the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 1 Nov. 2026
  • An altar is the place where something precious is ceded so something sacred can be drawn close.
    — Seth Limmer, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of close
Adverb
  • Cut Week will mark the biggest elimination in The Voice history, when each coach will send two singers straight through to Live Shows as five more contestants battle for one remaining spot on each team.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The donor layer absorbed visible light, while the transparent acceptor layer allowed sunlight to pass through.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of through
Adverb
  • Preliminary estimates place the new submarine’s submerged displacement at approximately 10,100 tons.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • About 85% of the departures were resignations or retirements, the Post found, while approximately 32,000 full-time workers were directly fired.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of approximately
Adverb
  • There’s drama everywhere at the Ritz-Carlton, with canopy-height structures of dark wood housing everything from boutiques to restaurants and even the lobby.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The Organization and Guidance Department, the party’s most powerful agency, oversees appointments, inspections, and discipline everywhere—in Pyongyang as well as rural villages.
    — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of everywhere

Phrases Containing around

Browse Nearby Words

arose
around
around the bend
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/around. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of effrontery

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All