around

around


Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "around" is /əˈraʊnd/.

  • First syllable: /ə/ (the 'a' sound, like in 'sofa')

  • Second syllable: /raʊnd/ (the 'roun' sound, like in 'round')


Word Form Variations

"Around" does not have typical singular, plural, or comparative/superlative forms as it is primarily an adverb and a preposition. It does not inflect for person, number, or tense like verbs, or for degree like adjectives.



Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adverb

  • Definition 1: In a circular direction; encompassing or encircling.

    • Synonyms: about, encompassing, surrounding, encircling

    • Antonyms: directly, straight

  • Definition 2: In the vicinity; nearby.

    • Synonyms: near, close by, hereabouts, in the neighborhood

    • Antonyms: far, distant, remote

  • Definition 3: From one place to another within a general area; to various places.

    • Synonyms: hither and thither, to and fro, about

    • Antonyms: still, fixed, stationary

  • Definition 4: (Of time) Approximately; at or near a particular time.

    • Synonyms: approximately, roughly, about, circa

    • Antonyms: precisely, exactly, sharply

Preposition

  • Definition 1: On every side of (something); encircling or surrounding.

    • Synonyms: encompassing, surrounding, encircling, about

    • Antonyms: through, within (when implying inside a bounded area without circumference)

  • Definition 2: Located or situated near (something).

    • Synonyms: near, by, beside, alongside

    • Antonyms: far from, distant from

  • Definition 3: On or to the other side of (something).

    • Synonyms: beyond, past

    • Antonyms: in front of, before

  • Definition 4: Moving in a circle or curve with (something) as the center.

    • Synonyms: circling, orbiting, revolving

    • Antonyms: away from, off (when moving directly away)


Examples of Use

Books:

  • "The old house stood on a hill with ancient oak trees around it, their branches gnarled and reaching." (From a fictional novel, e.g., The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, where "around" describes the trees' placement)

  • "He spent his days wandering around the bustling market, observing the diverse faces and vibrant stalls." (From a travelogue or descriptive prose, e.g., Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, describing movement within an area)

Newspapers:

  • "Concerns are growing around the city's new zoning plan, with many residents expressing their disapproval at last night's council meeting." (News report, The New York Times, using "around" to indicate a general area of concern or a topic)

  • "The local charity has raised around $10,000 for homeless initiatives in the past month." (News article, The Guardian, using "around" to denote approximation)

Online Publications:

  • "A common myth circulating around social media is that coffee stunts growth, but scientific evidence proves otherwise." (Fact-checking article on a health website, e.g., Snopes.com, indicating widespread distribution)

  • "We've rounded up the best restaurants around Midtown for your next culinary adventure." (Food blog or travel guide, e.g., Eater.com, referring to locations in the vicinity)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

  • Film (Dialogue): "Don't just stand around, do something!" (From an action movie, e.g., Die Hard, implying idleness or inaction)

  • Song Lyrics: "I've been around the world and I, I, I can't find my baby." (Pop song lyrics, e.g., "Around the World" by Daft Punk, signifying extensive travel)

  • TV Show (Narration): "As the sun set, a chilling wind swept around the desolate cabin, hinting at the terrors to come." (Horror series narration, e.g., American Horror Story, describing atmospheric movement)

  • Video Game (Instructions/Dialogue): "You need to search around the abandoned factory to find the hidden key." (In-game objective or NPC dialogue, e.g., Fallout, instructing the player to explore an area)

  • Podcast (Discussion): "There's a lot of debate around the ethics of AI development these days." (Informative podcast, e.g., TED Talks Daily, referring to a topic of discussion)

General Public Discourse:

  • "Hey, is John still around? I wanted to ask him something." (Casual conversation, asking about someone's presence in the vicinity)

  • "The kids were running around the park all afternoon, burning off energy." (Parent talking about their children's activity)

  • "I'll be around 7 PM for dinner, if that works for you." (Informal agreement, indicating approximate arrival time)

  • "We should definitely go out more often, just hang around and catch up." (Friendly suggestion, implying casual social interaction without a specific agenda)



10 Famous Quotes Using Around

  1. "What goes around comes around." — Anonymous proverb

  2. "Don’t wait for people to be friendly. Show them how — spread kindness around like confetti." — Unknown (often attributed to various speakers)

  3. "The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning — just around the bend." — Ivy Baker Priest

  4. "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up — look around." — Mark Twain (attributed)

  5. "All around you are spirits, child. They live in the earth, the water, the sky. If you listen, they will guide you." — Grandmother Willow in Pocahontas (Disney)

  6. "I have looked around me, and I see a world full of things to be grateful for." — Maya Angelou (paraphrased from interviews and essays)

  7. "Love is all around us, and that’s the message I try to share." — Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister in Love Actually

  8. "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation — especially when children are around." — Plato (paraphrased)

  9. "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work — but it’s always hanging around." — Thomas Edison (paraphrased)

  10. "You can’t go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people." — Terry Pratchett


Etymology

The word "around" has a pretty straightforward history! It basically means "on the round" or "on the circle."

It comes from Middle English (the form of English spoken from about 1150 to 1500). It's a combination of two older words:

  1. "a-": This used to be a prefix that meant "on" or "at." Think of words like "asleep" (on sleep) or "afire" (on fire). This "a-" came from Old English.

  2. "round": This part comes from Middle English "rounde," which itself was borrowed from an Old French word "roont" (which meant "circle" or "round").

So, if you put "a-" and "round" together, you literally get the idea of being "on a circle" or "on every side."

The first known use of "around" was in the 14th century, specifically around 1330. At that time, its main meaning was "in circumference," "in a circle," or "on every side." So, if you were talking about "trees around the field," it meant the trees were on all sides of the field, forming a kind of circle.



Phrases + Idioms Containing Around

  • Around the corner: Very near; about to happen.

  • Mess around: To waste time; to behave in a silly or unproductive way.

  • Fool around: Similar to "mess around"; to behave playfully or irresponsibly.

  • Around the clock: Continuously; twenty-four hours a day.

  • Beat around the bush: To avoid the main topic; to speak indirectly.

  • Get around: To travel or move from place to place; to overcome an obstacle.

  • Come around: To visit; to change one's opinion; to recover consciousness.

  • Look around: To examine a place by walking through it.

  • Wrap around one's finger: To have complete control over someone.

  • Around the bend: Crazy; insane (also "round the bend").

  • Give or take a few around the edges: An approximation, with some minor variations possible.

  • Spin around: To turn quickly in a circle.

  • Buzz around: To be very busy or active, moving quickly from place to place.

  • Hand around: To distribute something among a group of people.

  • Play around with an idea: To consider an idea informally, without committing to it.

  • No way around it: There is no alternative or escape.


Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA


Source Information

Definition of around from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.


KIRU

KIRU is an American artist, author and entrepreneur based in Brooklyn, New York. He is the Founder of KIRUNIVERSE, a creative enterprise home to brands and media platforms in business + strategy, mental wellness, the creative arts and more.

https://www.highaski.com
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