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

Relevance
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
Schultz started to make a name for himself in scouting circles over the summer. Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 Throughout the retreat, the series’ core elements are reiterated again and again, both in formal class time and casual conversation on our hike, at mealtimes, or around daily craft circles. Séamas O'Reilly, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026 The retired three-star general became known in right-wing conspiracy theory circles for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Michael Loria, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026 The operative, however, said many Republican circles are frustrated with DeSantis for not pouring more energy into the state special elections, worrying a similar pattern in the national midterm elections could be bad for the GOP. Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 2026 Herzen’s arrest was part of a sweeping crackdown on intellectual circles following the Decembrist uprising, as the tsarist regime sought to quell dissent. Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 There’s been a fair bit of hand-wringing in college basketball circles about the lack of Cinderella stories in this year’s NCAA men’s tournament. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026 But the people who stand to benefit most from simple bodyweight exercises—like arm circles or glute bridges—are beginners or those who haven’t worked out in a while. Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 24 Mar. 2026 Greco has become known in local art circles for his hyper-realstic painting style. Lisa Gutierrez march 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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 As the camera circles the car, two other portions of Kennedy’s speech play in the background. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 The polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone that circles the Arctic and contains extremely cold air. Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2026 But this award, which was inaugurated in 2023 with a Jesso win, circles the same handful of writers, and country scribes like Jessie Jo Dillon, pop bards like Amy Allen, and reggaeton men-at-arms like Edgar Barrera are just as up next. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circles
Noun
  • The new rings are here The Dodgers gave out World Series rings on Friday.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Ken Clay, who won World Series rings with the New York Yankees following the first two of his five seasons in Major League Baseball, died March 26.
    Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The steel loops that attach it to your bag are super sturdy and durable.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The musicians presumably had to rely heavily on loops in order to finish their tracks before the buzzer went off, and something is always slamming, scratching, or puttering away in the background.
    Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Efforts to enable reversible, two-way actuation have led to the development of systems such as semi-crystalline networks and liquid crystalline elastomers, which depend on structural alignment under applied stress.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Tea brands and toy retailers have also grown their overseas networks.
    Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Those rate and balance challenges alone have driven many older borrowers into cycles of delinquent debts.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
  • These isotopic measurements, including ratios involving hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur, are essential for reconstructing the planet’s history, such as the loss of water over time and ongoing chemical cycles within the atmosphere.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The rooms The rooms can best be described as minimalist but memorable, with a big emphasis on mood lighting, earth-toned velvet furniture, and photo-worthy vanity areas.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Shelter-in-place order lifted Several areas near the scene were placed under a shelter-in-place order after the explosion, according to local officials.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • One of the key lessons UConn’s veterans took from last year’s championship run was the importance of focus, of quieting the noise that surrounds the bracket and the program’s unmatched legacy of success.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Littleleaf boxwood surrounds one planting area filled with iceberg roses.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 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, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Abigail is the one who clearly thrills to performance; Shaun consistently orbits her sun, giving the impression of the bearded and bespectacled multi-instrumentalist who’d be happy jamming on the sidelines.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Although the precipitation may be on the light side, very welcome rain and mountain snow will be common across the Intermountain West with multiple rounds through the week.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • For now, investigators are focused on pinpointing where the bones originally came from — a question that could take additional rounds of analysis to answer.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Circles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circles. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on circles

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster