Meaning & Definition of Around in English

1. In the area or vicinity

• "A few spectators standing about"

• "Hanging around"

• "Waited around for the next flight"

2. By a circular or circuitous route

• "He came all the way around the base"

• "The road goes around the pond"

3. Used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction

• "Wandering about with no place to go"

• "People were rushing about"

• "News gets around (or about)"

• "Traveled around in asia"

• "He needs advice from someone who's been around"

• "She sleeps around"

4. In a circle or circular motion

• "The wheels are spinning around"

5. (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct

• "Lasted approximately an hour"

• "In just about a minute"

• "He's about 30 years old"

• "I've had about all i can stand"

• "We meet about once a month"

• "Some forty people came"

• "Weighs around a hundred pounds"

• "Roughly $3,000"

• "Holds 3 gallons, more or less"

• "20 or so people were at the party"

6. In or to a reversed position or direction

• "About face"

• "Suddenly she turned around"

7. To a particular destination either specified or understood

• "She came around to see me"

• "I invited them around for supper"

8. All around or on all sides

• "Dirty clothes lying around (or about)"

• "Let's look about for help"

• "There were trees growing all around"

• "She looked around her"

9. In circumference

• "The trunk is ten feet around"

• "The pond is two miles around"

10. From beginning to end

• Throughout

• "It rains all year round on skye"

• "Frigid weather the year around"