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Around Very Common

Around has 13 different meanings across 2 categories:

Adverb · Prep

Definitions
Adjective
1

Present in the vicinity.

"I can't locate my keys, but I'm sure they are somewhere around here since I only walked a few steps away."

In plain English: Around means being somewhere close to a person or thing but not exactly next to it.

"The price is going to go up around twenty percent next year."

Usage: Use "around" as an adjective only when it directly modifies a noun to mean existing in the vicinity, such as in the phrase "people around me." In most other cases, you should use it as an adverb or preposition instead.

Adverb
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"

11

So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof.

"The crowd gathered around the stage in a tight circle to watch the performance."

In plain English: Around means being in the general area of something rather than at a specific spot.

"The package will be here somewhere around noon today."

Usage: Use "around" to indicate moving in a circular pattern or following a curved route rather than going straight. It also works when describing an approximate location or time without needing exact precision.

Prep
1

Defining a circle or closed curve containing a thing.

"The hikers tied their backpacks to a sturdy branch and walked around in a tight circle until they were back at the starting point."

Example Sentences
"The price is going to go up around twenty percent next year." adj
"The package will be here somewhere around noon today." adv
"She looked around the room for her keys." adv
"The kids played around in the backyard all afternoon." adv
"Prices have gone up and down around the city center." adv
Related Terms

Origin

The word "around" comes from combining the prefix a- and the word round, which was borrowed from French. It replaced an older form of the same meaning that had been used in Middle English.

Rhyming Words
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