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circling 1 of 2

adjective

as in swirling

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circling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of circle
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
2
as in orbiting
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 circling
Verb
An exclusive excerpt published by Decibel centers on Cave In and the period surrounding the band’s breakthrough Jupiter, when major labels began circling. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026 This usually begins with the wasp cautiously circling its target while slowly getting closer. — Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 The category shift the beauty industry has been circling for two years is finally landing below the neck. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026 What was the inspiration for circling all the way back to that initial meeting? — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2026 Villa could not afford to be sloppy in midfield, considering the four Forest players circling. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, Sasha and Morgan have been circling something neither of them has been able to admit to. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026 After circling the bases, Volpe took a curtain call for Yankee Stadium fans who chanted his name several times throughout the night. — ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026 The streaming giant is circling Andres Cantor to provide Spanish-language coverage of the event. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circling
  1. swirling
  2. surrounding
  3. orbiting
  4. spiral
  5. encircling
  6. traversing
  7. spiraling
  8. crossing
Adjective
  • With bright colors and bold, swirling lines, his vivid imagery captured the era’s infectious optimism.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The process also keeps the sand in a perpetual swirling motion that contrasts beautifully with the still surface.
    — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of swirling
Verb
  • The privacy problem The bigger concern surrounding this tech, however, is privacy.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, bodies are starting to float in from the surrounding lakes and streams, transforming the picturesque setting into a hellscape that, when the Soviets arrive, is likely to get worse.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of surrounding
Verb
  • That changed in 2013, when a small, dark body orbiting between Saturn and Uranus passed in front of a star and blinked twice on either side of the main event, revealing two narrow rings around an object barely 250 kilometers across.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Naturally, the night called for not one, not two, but three major looks, all orbiting a palette of fall neutrals.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of orbiting
Adjective
  • But things quickly spiral beyond clear narrative recognition, as piecing together the story becomes a puzzle unto itself.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The $40 cup also comes with a green and white spiral straw with a Woodstock topper.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of spiral
Verb
  • Dumas watched, charmed, his arms encircling his wife’s shoulders, and accepted an ice-cream sundae in a silver parfait cup.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • There are no bleachers, so spectators set up lawn chairs encircling the field.
    — Kelenna Onukwugha, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of encircling
Verb
  • Frith has three friends with her when she’s first seen traversing the marshes.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The production’s adventurousness, traversing every corner of Brad Bentz’s scenic design, can have a diffuse effect.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of traversing
Adjective
  • Libfeld brought a massive, spiraling kudu horn to practice with at a recent Torat Emet shofar class.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Aside from a spiraling Wanda, there was also an onslaught of high-profile cameos, which almost felt like fandom wish fulfillment designed to keep us entertained when Wanda wasn’t around.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of spiraling
Verb
  • When Tom left, the chatter shifted, with some placing their bets on either Kevin Mayer or me crossing the finish line first.
    — Bob Chapek, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Merchants crossing the threshold can face per-transaction penalties and mandatory remediation.
    — Adarsh Naidu, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of crossing

Browse Nearby Words

circlets
circling
circuit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Circling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circling. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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