1
as in surrounded
to form a circle around
everyone circled the lectern and waited their turn to read from the Bible
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in orbited
to travel completely around
with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 circled
During a time when Lane Kiffin once again became the target of fans everywhere, his new AD stepped up and circled the wagons.
—
Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
For three years, the Wizards’ braintrust has circled 2026 as the draft.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Witnesses reported the Challenger circled the parking lot of Boom Island Park, with the passenger shooting into the crowd multiple times.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 10 May 2026
Most fans had this showdown circled on their respective calendars.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Crime scene tape blocked off part of the street at that intersection, and a helicopter circled overhead.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Minutes before the raid, LAPD squads slowly circled the park.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Most surviving enclaves are too small to shade on this map; they can only be circled.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
Saturday’s date would have been one that many LAFC fans circled with interest as the 2026 schedule was released.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 2 May 2026
Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
For three years, the Wizards’ braintrust has circled 2026 as the draft.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Witnesses reported the Challenger circled the parking lot of Boom Island Park, with the passenger shooting into the crowd multiple times.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 10 May 2026
Most fans had this showdown circled on their respective calendars.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Crime scene tape blocked off part of the street at that intersection, and a helicopter circled overhead.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Minutes before the raid, LAPD squads slowly circled the park.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Most surviving enclaves are too small to shade on this map; they can only be circled.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
Saturday’s date would have been one that many LAFC fans circled with interest as the 2026 schedule was released.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circled
Verb
-
For a romantic base, book the standalone seafront suite at the boutique Hotel Ilio, set above Sant'Andrea Beach and surrounded by gardens.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
-
It’s mostly surrounded by embassies and law firms, not cafés or galleries.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
But the choice fit neatly into the mood currently surrounding Chanel — a house Keough has long orbited — since Matthieu Blazy has taken it in a new direction.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
While Mars is a potential time capsule with evidence of ancient life, other planets like Jupiter and Saturn are orbited by moons that NASA spacecraft are targeting in their hunt for life.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Starting in 1946, however, the Queen Mother opted to wear a large pearl ring instead, also encircled by diamonds.—
Ilana Frost,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
-
Police then encircled the shooter, who used one more bullet on himself.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Iran's near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz has thrown global oil trade into disarray, cutting off importers from around one-fifth of the global oil supply that traversed the waterway before the war.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
-
Tehran denied that, but Danish shipping and logistics company Maersk subsequently confirmed that one of its ships had traversed the strait with US protection.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, Lake Geneva Geneva Lake, ringed by resorts, vacation homes, and 19th-century mansions, is anchored by the town of Lake Geneva on its east end.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
9 May 2026
-
Soon the farm itself will be ringed by data centers and infrastructure.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The creatives have their fingers crossed that Jim Queen will connect with audiences and help with funding for more adult animation films in the future.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
At 15, Benyamin, of Romeoville, crossed the graduation stage as the university’s youngest student ever to receive his master’s degree from the school in its nearly 100-year tenure.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
As Kelsey Luderer rounded third base and headed home Thursday after hitting a game-tying home run that ignited Sherman Oaks Notre Dame to a 6-3 Division 1 softball playoff win over Anaheim Canyon, she was greeted by every teammate at the plate.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
Encompassing all 20 numbers from the latest album and not a single song that existed prior to it (rounded out to 22 with a quickie Nina Simone cover and a duet with Jay Som on their 2025 collab), the 95-minute set couldn’t have been less of a career retrospective.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circled. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
