1
as in to circle
to travel completely around
communication satellites encircling the earth
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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
Recently, however, the fighting has come to encircle it.
—
Claire Porter Robbins, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
Those memories came flooding back for him and his family, though, in late February 2022, when Russian forces crossed Ukraine’s eastern border and encircled Kyiv just a few days later.
—Rory Fleming, CNN Money, 29 July 2025
But nowhere is the issue as acute as in Nevada, where Las Vegas and Reno are encircled by public land.
—Abe Streep, ProPublica, 8 July 2025
JCPenney has a standalone store in Matteson on a perimeter road southeast of U.S. 30 and Cicero Avenue that once encircled Lincoln Mall, since demolished.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for encircle
Claire Porter Robbins, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
Those memories came flooding back for him and his family, though, in late February 2022, when Russian forces crossed Ukraine’s eastern border and encircled Kyiv just a few days later.
—Rory Fleming, CNN Money, 29 July 2025
But nowhere is the issue as acute as in Nevada, where Las Vegas and Reno are encircled by public land.
—Abe Streep, ProPublica, 8 July 2025
JCPenney has a standalone store in Matteson on a perimeter road southeast of U.S. 30 and Cicero Avenue that once encircled Lincoln Mall, since demolished.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for encircle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encircle
Verb
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The late-season fruits are incredibly showy, arranged in dense clusters circling the stems.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Aug. 2025
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Metallica’s Lars Ulrich addressed rumors that the band is circling a Las Vegas Sphere residency — as well as angling for the halftime show at next year’s Super Bowl — in an interview Wednesday with Howard Stern.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for multiple zones, including Val Verde, Hasley Canyon, and areas surrounding Lake Piru.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
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Dodge's lineup build-out comes as automakers are grappling with changing policies surrounding electric vehicles under the Trump administration.—
Ali McCadden,
CNBC,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If not, grab a booth at MacLaren's and settle in as architect Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) traverses the streets, bars, and rooftop Halloween parties of New York in search of his one true love.—
Tanya Melendez,
EW.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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The fact that concrete is a much larger piece means the crack can traverse the entire pad.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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From Jupiter’s swirling storms to Neptune’s icy depths, planets across our solar system are orbited by a fascinating cast of moons.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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In fact, Alpha Centauri is a triple-star system made up of two stars, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B that orbit around one another and a third, Proxima Centauri, that orbits the other two.—
David Szondy
August 14,
New Atlas,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encircle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encircle. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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