1
as in traverses
to travel completely around
communication satellites encircling the earth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in surrounds
to form a circle around
immediately after announcing their engagement, the couple was encircled by their applauding friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encircles
The tubing with inline emitters, shown at bottom, encircles a citrus.
—
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
The polar jet stream is a ribbon of air that encircles the Northern Hemisphere at high altitudes and determines atmospheric pressure patterns.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
Instead, a bright ring of sunlight encircles the moon's silhouette, often called a 'ring of fire'.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Many travelers choose to explore the area via the Ring of Kerry, the scenic drive that encircles the peninsula.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Each element encircles a central void, which Robertson describes as symbolic thresholds–portals between identities, spaces, and ideas.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Of course, the vote passes and the Imperial Fleet encircles the planet, all according to plan.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2025
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
The polar jet stream is a ribbon of air that encircles the Northern Hemisphere at high altitudes and determines atmospheric pressure patterns.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
Instead, a bright ring of sunlight encircles the moon's silhouette, often called a 'ring of fire'.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Many travelers choose to explore the area via the Ring of Kerry, the scenic drive that encircles the peninsula.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
Each element encircles a central void, which Robertson describes as symbolic thresholds–portals between identities, spaces, and ideas.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Of course, the vote passes and the Imperial Fleet encircles the planet, all according to plan.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encircles
Verb
-
Over an efficient five tracks, West traverses the sonic styles of her generation — from nu-metal riffs to rage-rap 808s — with dazzling confidence.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
1 May 2026
-
Equipped with advanced LiDAR sensors and 360-degree cameras, the humanoid autonomously traverses the site, capturing high-definition data and feeding it directly into health and safety workflows.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But as the rover attempted to pull out its drill arm, the rock came up with it, having gotten lodged onto the sleeve that surrounds the tool’s bit.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
-
Set the scene The hotel’s name comes from the beach grass that surrounds it—perhaps your first clue as to how this summertime escape sits harmoniously among its Long Island coast setting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
That process moves forward, then circles back, then moves again.—
Felysha Walker
May 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
-
Enjoy a coffee break at The Lookout at Lake Poway before the group circles back.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Because the station orbits Earth once every 90 minutes, the crew on board sees 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
The sky is always changing As Earth orbits the sun, stars appear to rise about four minutes earlier each night.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The question was about coaching in general, but certainly rings true in the Heat’s case.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Norah feels celebrated and strengthened by its community, an ethos that rings true when Claire speaks about those around her.—
Julie Lin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The film crosses sites where camps once stood, setting them against diaries, memoirs and letters by prisoners.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
11 May 2026
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If Taj Mahal crosses the line first, Brittany Russell will become the first female trainer to win the Preakness Stakes.—
Bennett Conlin,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encircles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encircles. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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