encompasses

verb

present tense third-person singular of encompass
1
as in surrounds
to form a circle around a necklace of sapphire-blue lakes encompasses the town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in includes
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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wraps
to surround or cover closely a fog of mystery has long encompassed this fraternal organization, which is known for its secret rituals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 encompasses The Microsoft 365 platform is also widely used and encompasses services such as Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Copilot, making disruptions potentially far-reaching. — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Nov. 2026 The solidly Democratic district encompasses Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt, Lodi, Placerville and El Dorado. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026 Capitalized in Aboriginal English, the word encompasses far more than a physical space. — Liam Freeman, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026 Republicans zoned in on Districts One, which includes part of Cincinnati, and Nine, which encompasses most of the northwestern portion of the state. — Connor Greene, Time, 8 Nov. 2026 The mothership series, created by Stephen Hillenburg, originally debuted in 1999 and has grown into a massive multi-media franchise that encompasses TV shows, movies, games, merchandise, a Broadway musical, and more. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026 The Zaha Hadid Foundation encompasses 300,000 objects from the late architect’s life, from paintings, architectural models, sketchbooks, letters and even her wardrobe (which includes Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto pieces). — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 5 Nov. 2026 Seat 1 encompasses a broad swath of southwest Orange, including Hunter’s Creek, Winter Garden, Oakland and Lake Buena Vista. — Beth Kassab, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026 The district encompasses parts of Kane, Will, DeKalb, Kendall, LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam counties, including all or parts of Plainfield, Joliet, Aurora and Sycamore. — Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encompasses
  1. surrounds
  2. includes
  3. wraps
  4. encircles
  5. involves
  6. encloses
  7. contains
  8. envelops
Verb
  • This year’s ceremony will also take place as political drama surrounds the institution, which has historically avoided partisan issues.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The yard in south Atlanta surrounds a home owned by Renee Davis.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of surrounds
Verb
  • Tech and communications services The S & P Communications Services sector, which includes giants like Alphabet , Netflix and Disney is now down 22% from the May high.
    — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The results offer the first in-depth look at voter sentiment in the contentious intraparty and generational battle for the 7th District, which includes downtown Sacramento and stretches from Lodi to parts of El Dorado County.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of includes
Verb
  • On the top floor, the Pasaje presidential penthouse stuns with floor-to-ceiling windows and an expansive corner terrace that wraps around the building, providing panoramas of the city.
    — Wendy O'Dea, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The pop culture phenomenon that started an empire is coming to Inglewood’s Cosm, home to a high-definition spherical screen that wraps around audiences.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of wraps
Verb
  • The plan could affect not only the path that encircles the park, used by large numbers of residents, but also the golf course’s historic grove of Japanese cherry trees.
    — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In May, the Georgia Department of Transportation closed a major section of the road, which encircles the city of Atlanta and connects much of the greater metro area, sending both intra- and interstate traffic through the city.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of encircles
Verb
  • Chelation therapy involves the administration of administering specialized chemical agents that attach to the lead molecules in the bird’s blood and form a compound that is expelled, mostly via urine.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The process for obtaining revocable consent currently involves filing a petition with the Department of Transportation, which then must hold a public hearing.
    — Digital Producer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of involves
Verb
  • Despite its shorter length, the structure encloses approximately 25 percent more volume than mammalian vaults.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The building encloses an acre of private landscaped courtyard, which the apartment’s airy living area overlooks.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of encloses
Verb
  • California officials, however, say the government’s list contains substantial inaccuracies and risks disenfranchising eligible citizens.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The study contains no word on the protein component of hemoglobin being preserved.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of contains
Verb
  • The resort's address, in the heart of Banff National Park overlooking glacier-fed Lake Louise, envelops guests in nature.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The tulle material at the front envelops the foot, creating a soft and delicate appearance.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of envelops

Browse Nearby Words

encompassed
encompasses
encompassing
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Cite this Entry

“Encompasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encompasses. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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