1
as in surrounding
to form a circle around
everyone circled the lectern and waited their turn to read from the Bible
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in orbiting
to travel completely around
with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in swirling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circling
Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
The ship was slowly circling the area where the crew member went overboard as the Italian Coast Guard conducted a maritime search.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Before a lunar landing mission is attempted, NASA is planning to launch four astronauts on its Artemis II mission in 2026 on a 10-day mission circling the moon.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Ellison has been circling WBD since early September, having made his intentions known about a month after the completion of the $8 billion Skydance-Paramount merger.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2025
There is also a dancing thread, taking the shape of the Quarona factory and circling the globe before arriving in New York, where a Loro Piana truck with raw fiber bales traverses the facade.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
But when the sports media conglomerate’s exclusive negotiating period over an extension to the current arrangement expired early in 2025, other potential broadcasters, including Netflix, began circling.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In any case, the buzzards were circling like in an old western.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Twenty years’ worth of imagery captured by two orbiters circling Mars has revealed raging winds on the red planet.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
One of the names circling the rumor mill for all of these top jobs is Kiffin, who has rebuilt Mississippi into a powerhouse in the SEC.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
The ship was slowly circling the area where the crew member went overboard as the Italian Coast Guard conducted a maritime search.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Before a lunar landing mission is attempted, NASA is planning to launch four astronauts on its Artemis II mission in 2026 on a 10-day mission circling the moon.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Ellison has been circling WBD since early September, having made his intentions known about a month after the completion of the $8 billion Skydance-Paramount merger.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2025
There is also a dancing thread, taking the shape of the Quarona factory and circling the globe before arriving in New York, where a Loro Piana truck with raw fiber bales traverses the facade.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
But when the sports media conglomerate’s exclusive negotiating period over an extension to the current arrangement expired early in 2025, other potential broadcasters, including Netflix, began circling.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In any case, the buzzards were circling like in an old western.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Twenty years’ worth of imagery captured by two orbiters circling Mars has revealed raging winds on the red planet.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circling
Verb
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Sam's Throne Campground and surrounding public areas will remain closed to ensure public safety while the search and monitoring operations continue, according to the release.—
Bill Bowden,
Arkansas Online,
24 Oct. 2025
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Because of this, a close look at the play and the scholarship surrounding it can help make clear the stakes of due process.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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More likely, the European Space Agency's Gaia astrometric mission may have been able to detect a wobble in the motion of the white dwarf on the sky caused by the gravity of orbiting gas giant planets pulling on it.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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While most satellite internet services operate from single geostationary satellites orbiting Earth at about 22,236 miles, Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that operate from a low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That same day, the moon will reach its first-quarter phase in Aquarius, reminding us to remain objective amidst the swirling intensity brought on by the sun’s journey through Scorpio.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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Cook, stirring and swirling constantly, until the garlic is tender and fragrant, about 7 minutes.—
Kate Bradshaw,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There is a lot of red—99 naval and coast guard vessels, to be precise, completely encircling Taiwan during PLA exercises last December.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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The vents encircling the stand’s rounded top handle cooling.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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For astronauts belonging to the European Space Agency, traversing underground caves can be a helpful simulation for the challenges of space exploration.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While fans may no longer watch those familiar white discs spiral across the field, the memories remain—etched in photos, in inside jokes, and in the hearts of those who once stood shoulder to shoulder, laughing as flour dust filled the West Texas air.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
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In Hubble's recent image, NGC 6951 unfurls its graceful spiral arms, covered in red nebulae glowing with hydrogen gas, a key fuel for new stars.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street in front of them.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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Several factors can make the sun glare worse or more dangerous, including leftover moisture from storms or road treatments, steep hills and sharp turns, and obstacles such as wildlife crossing the highway, CDOT said.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Key qualities are the multicolor LED lights and sound machine functions (30 non-looping sounds, by the way).—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
18 Sep. 2025
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Following the close pass, 2025 FA22 will continue its 668-day looping path through the inner solar system that takes it well beyond the orbit of Mars.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circling. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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