encircle

verb

in-ˈsər-kəl How to pronounce encircle (audio)
Definition of encirclenext
1
as in to circle
to travel completely around communication satellites encircling the earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to surround
to form a circle around immediately after announcing their engagement, the couple was encircled by their applauding friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encircle Monumental-scale projections examining profound questions of bodies, landscape, and existence encircle a centerpiece of sculptural Jeju volcanic rocks. — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 With that official, the Astros encircled Espada in the visitors’ batting cage at Sutter Health Park. — Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 27 Sep. 2026 The shoe is a high-heeled sandal made of nuanced lines and subtle curves, appearing to wrap the foot in ribbon-like bands that encircle the ankle and fasten with a gold buckle. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026 Ironically, the city’s position in a beautiful valley—encircled by the ridges of the Cumberland Plateau, at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains—also led to some persistent environmental issues. — Daliah Singer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encircle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encircle
  1. circle
  2. surround
  3. traverse
  4. orbit
Verb
  • The restaurant was loud, with photographers circling the art patrons like vultures.
    — Eileen Kelly, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The possible deal follows major Hollywood studios and streamers earlier circling the movie inspired by the biggest video game of 2025.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of circle
Verb
  • Sánchez, while a popular progressive leader internationally, has been surrounded by a series of legal cases against his Socialist party and even his family, which all deny any wrongdoing.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Part of Tremors’ charm was its large bar surrounded by memorabilia, including a vintage exercise bike.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of surround
Verb
  • The Firebrand and the First Lady demonstrates that the early civil rights movement was built on a foundation of deep, complicated, long-term relationships which traversed the boundaries of both race and class.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The vessel will navigate south through the narrow Strait of Malacca, round the turbulent waters of the Cape of Good Hope, and traverse the open expanse of the South Atlantic before dropping anchor off Bahia’s coast.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of traverse
Verb
  • With the late morning liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Watkins became the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The planetary system is among the most studied in our galaxy, and its star is known to host 30 orbiting comets and a giant disk of dust and debris, which NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope photographed in detail in 2015.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of orbit

Browse Nearby Words

enciphers
encircle
encircled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Encircle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encircle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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