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
"What goes around comes around." — Anonymous proverb
"Don’t wait for people to be friendly. Show them how — spread kindness around like confetti." — Unknown (often attributed to various speakers)
"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
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up — look around." — Mark Twain (attributed)
"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)
"I have looked around me, and I see a world full of things to be grateful for." — Maya Angelou (paraphrased from interviews and essays)
"Love is all around us, and that’s the message I try to share." — Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister in Love Actually
"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)
"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)
"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:
"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.
"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.
