encompass

1 to form a circle around a necklace of sapphire-blue lakes encompasses the town Synonyms circle, compass, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), surround, environ, gird, girdle, ring, wreatheRelated Words circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall; beset, besiege, entrench (also intrench), invest, swarm

2 to have as part of a whole textbooks on American history are now likely to encompass its social history as well as its political and military history Synonyms carry, comprehend, contain, embrace, include, entail, involve, number, subsume, take inRelated Words comprise, consist (of); bracket; have, hold, own, possess; admit, receive; compose, constitute, form, make; assimilate, embody, incorporate, integrateNear Antonyms ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit; deny, refuse, reject; eliminate, except, rule out; lose, mislay, misplaceAntonyms exclude, leave (out), miss out [British], omit

3 to surround or cover closely a fog of mystery has long encompassed this fraternal organization, which is known for its secret rituals Synonyms bosom, bower, circumfuse, cocoon, embosom, embower, embrace, enclose (also inclose), enfold, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, invest, involve, lap, mantle, muffle, shroud, swathe, veil, wrapRelated Words curtain, drape; embed (also imbed), encase; swaddle; blanket, overlay, overspread; camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask; circle, encircle, enlace, enwindNear Antonyms bare, denude, expose, strip