as in circling
to travel completely around
the moon orbits the Earth
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Recent Examples of orbiting
This is the first spaceflight for Cardman and Platonov, the fourth trip for Fincke, and the second for Yui, to the orbiting laboratory.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
As time progresses, tidal forces between the stars can draw them closer, accelerating their precession and causing an orbiting planet's precession to slow.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The four new space station crew members are slated to remain at the orbiting outpost for around eight months.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
This is increasingly important, given the rising number of satellites orbiting our planet.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Lots of supermassive black holes appear red because most other emitted wavelengths are absorbed by orbiting clouds of dust.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
The world is home to gigantic storms bigger than Australia, 100-mph winds pummeling its northern reaches and a rocky moon named Io orbiting it that is notoriously riddled with lava-spewing volcanoes.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
As time progresses, tidal forces between the stars can draw them closer, accelerating their precession and causing an orbiting planet's precession to slow.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The four new space station crew members are slated to remain at the orbiting outpost for around eight months.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
This is increasingly important, given the rising number of satellites orbiting our planet.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Lots of supermassive black holes appear red because most other emitted wavelengths are absorbed by orbiting clouds of dust.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
The world is home to gigantic storms bigger than Australia, 100-mph winds pummeling its northern reaches and a rocky moon named Io orbiting it that is notoriously riddled with lava-spewing volcanoes.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orbiting
Verb
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Becket is broke, disowned and circling a family fortune that never wanted him.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
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The mission, known as Artemis 2, is due to send three Americans and one Canadian on a 10-day trip circling the moon.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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From there, the monks will walk together again, traversing six miles to the temple where their trip began.—
Deepa Bharath,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The work is a stone arch that, rather than traversing a stream from one bank to another, stands in the water lengthwise, aligned with the rushing current, evoking a leaping salmon.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The rehaut features deep-blue Tambour markings and modern numerals on a crisp white background, encircling a 24-hour GMT scale at a lower level.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
2 Feb. 2026
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America’s most powerful military assets have now convened in the Middle East, encircling Iran and preparing to strike it from land, air, and sea.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Orbiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orbiting. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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