1
as in to circle
to travel completely around
communication satellites encircling the earth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to surround
to form a circle around
immediately after announcing their engagement, the couple was encircled by their applauding friends
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encircle
The trail encircles a large, ADA-accessible playground and also provides views of the South Bend skyline.
—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 4 Jan. 2026
In São Paulo as in LA, downtown neighborhoods are calculatingly encircled by transportation infrastructure that has displaced thousands of working-class people, often through the brutality of eminent domain, which allows the government to force the sale of property for public use.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
For two days, Chinese warships and aircraft simulated a blockade of the global chip hub with live-fire exercises encircling the main island, while dozens of rockets struck waters near its northern and eastern ends on Tuesday.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
Live-fire activities would take place in five maritime and airspace zones encircling the island on Tuesday, according to information released by the command.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encircle
Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 4 Jan. 2026
In São Paulo as in LA, downtown neighborhoods are calculatingly encircled by transportation infrastructure that has displaced thousands of working-class people, often through the brutality of eminent domain, which allows the government to force the sale of property for public use.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
For two days, Chinese warships and aircraft simulated a blockade of the global chip hub with live-fire exercises encircling the main island, while dozens of rockets struck waters near its northern and eastern ends on Tuesday.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
Live-fire activities would take place in five maritime and airspace zones encircling the island on Tuesday, according to information released by the command.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encircle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encircle
Verb
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SpaceX just launched the first-ever human spaceflight to circle Earth over its poles.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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Cassidy pointed to a December game in Columbus when defenseman Brayden McNabb slid down from the point as Marner circled up to the top.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The surrounding businesses were evacuated by El Monte police as the investigation continued.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Tourism industry officials in the towns surrounding Yosemite, who generally oppose reservations to enter Yosemite, praised the announcement.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The video showed the mysterious concept, dubbed Corleo, roaming rocky terrain, leaping over icy crevasses, crossing snowy landscapes without losing its footing, and traversing a dark forest at night — all while carrying an adult rider on its back and being powered by a hydrogen power cell.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
8 Jan. 2026
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The massive International Sportsmen’s Expo returns to the Colorado Convention Center this weekend for all things hunting, fishing and traversing the land.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The four astronauts will lift off from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and spend the first two days orbiting the Earth, testing their life-support systems.—
The Week,
TheWeek,
7 Jan. 2026
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The budget would preserve NASA missions to Venus, Uranus and the Habitable Worlds Observatory that are meant to search for life on planets orbiting nearby stars, as well as the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is slated for launch next year.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encircle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encircle. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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