circles 1 of 2

Definition of circlesnext
plural of circle
1
as in rings
something with a perfectly round circumference a circle of columns surrounds the memorial to the fallen heroes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in loops
a circular strip a decorative circle of silver on the rim of the commemorative plate for their 25th wedding anniversary

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in cycles
a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order with the birth of a child coming so soon after the death of a grandparent, we were once again reminded of the circle of life

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

circles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of circle

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 circles
Noun
June 21 – July 22 Support feels easier to access today, especially in your close circles. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2026 Steenburgen, 73, an Oscar-winning actress known for early work in 1980s Melvin and Howard and beloved films like Parenthood, has long been part of the same Hollywood circles as Winkler, making their on-screen pairing decades in the making. Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 More than a week later, that choice is still reverberating through finance and regulatory circles. Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026 In addition to her corporate role, she has been recognized in industry circles, including serving as an ambassador at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit and being named to CoinDesk’s Top 50 Women in Web3 and AI. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026 Beef takes off from there, laying out intersecting circles of power and competition. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026 Eastman has a long history in California’s conservative legal circles. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 In creative circles, AI has been acting as a partner, turning video marketing from an intimidating, unreachable option into an accessible, everyday growth tool. Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026 Barbara Deer and her son Kaleb died in a murder-suicide, officials said, sending shockwaves through Chicago political circles as the city’s West Side laments the losses in one of its most prominent families. Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
As the vehicle circles the far side of the moon, communication back to Earth is expected to be blocked for about 40 minutes. Brendan Byrne, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026 On Deck 10, furniture upholstered in La Rumba circles the main pool and an outdoor bar. Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 6 Apr. 2026 The space station circles our planet at an altitude referred to as low-Earth orbit, which is closer to Earth's atmosphere and allows the outpost to move more quickly around Earth than objects further out in space. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026 Editing compounds that issue, and not even a familiar and fun soundtrack can distract from a narrative that endlessly circles the same jokes and conflicts without properly deepening them. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026 Anthony Arceneaux, who owns the spot with his wife, Jennifer, circles the room in a white cowboy hat, shaking hands like a Presidential candidate. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026 Amazomania really circles around that. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026 Tahoe Rim Trail At roughly 170 miles, the Tahoe Rim Trail circles the entire lake and offers everything from casual afternoon loops to multi-day backpacking epics. Ted Alvarez, Outside, 9 Mar. 2026 Charles then circles around the cruiser and onto a sidewalk, which puts a barrier of snow between him and Jones, who can be seen standing in the street. Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circles
Noun
  • Pierre quickly regains his feet but the teens continue to pummel him until gunfire rings out.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Millions of Americans are strapping on smartwatches and smart rings to track everything from sleep to heart rate to body temperature.
    Allison Aubrey, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The remaining vessels traveled in loops to avoid entering the waterway.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
  • And in 1922, Levi’s became the first brand to use belt loops on jeans.
    Jack Armstrong, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • And streamers, which once prided themselves on being the anti-networks, are once again taking a cue from the way TV used to be made.
    Joe Otterson, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The dark forms of lunar maria, or lunar seas, will be easy to see with the naked eye, scarring the lunar surface where ancient lava flows once flooded networks of impact basins before hardening to form sweeping basaltic planes.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In the span of roughly seven months, the USDA froze the program’s grant funding, invited grantees to reapply without climate and DEI language, imposed sweeping new restrictions on solar on farmland, and closed future application cycles.
    Ayurella Horn-Muller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
  • By leveraging existing infrastructure, the Navy could avoid long refit cycles.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Velvet banquette couches and mid-century modern furniture punctuate roomy seating areas throughout the hotel, along with two main restaurant venues, an elegant cocktail bar, and a cozy coffee shop.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed to the public after visitors encountered aggressive bears in two areas over the weekend, the National Park Service said.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • REEs are used in the infrastructure that surrounds batteries, the magnets found in EV motors and wind turbines, and other clean energy technologies.
    Big Think, Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
  • And there is everything else that surrounds Baldwin, Shuter was told.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Psyche is a nickel-iron core asteroid that orbits the sun beyond Mars anywhere from 235 million to 309 million miles away.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The book orbits around an art scandal that pulls in collectors, curators, philosophers and hangers-on.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The prop gun, which Baldwin believed to contain dummy rounds, actually had a live round of ammunition in it.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Both Castro and Fernandez also proposed similar annual membership rate changes that, while pricier than the previous rate, wouldn’t require golfers to pay for the country club and would still impose caps on complimentary rounds to reduce play at the overwhelmed golf course.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Circles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circles. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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