Around is an adverb and a preposition. In British English, the word 'round' is often usedinstead. Around is often used with verbs of movement, such as 'walk' and 'drive', and also in phrasalverbs such as 'get around' and 'hand around'.
1. preposition
To be positioned around a place or object means to surround it or be on all sides of it. To move around a place means to go along its edge, back to your starting point.
She looked at the papers around her.
Today she wore her hair down around her shoulders.
...a prosperous suburb built around a new mosque.
Synonyms: surrounding, about, enclosing, encompassing More Synonyms of around
Around is also an adverb.
...a village with a rocky river, a ruined castle and hills all around.
The drive takes you past mighty Bolton Castle, visible for miles around.
2. preposition
If you move around a corner or obstacle, you move to the other side of it. If you look around a corner or obstacle, you look to see what is on the other side.
The photographer stopped clicking and hurried around the corner.
I peered around the edge of the shed–there was no sign of anyone else.
3. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you turn around, you turn so that you are facing in the opposite direction.
I turned around and wrote the title on the blackboard.
He straightened up slowly and spun around on the stool to face us.
Synonyms: in the opposite direction, the other way More Synonyms of around
4. preposition
If you move around a place, you travel through it, going to most of its parts. If you look around a place, you look at every part of it.
I've been walking around Moscow and the town is terribly quiet.
He glanced discreetly around the room at the other people.
Synonyms: about, all over, everywhere in More Synonyms of around
Around is also an adverb.
He backed away from the edge, looking all around at the flat horizon.
5. preposition
If someone moves around a place, they move through various parts of that place without having any particulardestination.
In between the talks everyone is milling around and having coffee.
Around is also an adverb.
My mornings are spent rushing around after him.
...a scruffy youth wandering around looking lost.
6. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you go around to someone's house, you visit them.
She helped me unpack my things and then we went around to see the other girls.
7. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use around in expressions such as sit around and hang around when you are saying that someone is spending time in a place and not doing anything very important.
I'm just going to be hanging around twiddling my thumbs.
After breakfast the next morning they sat around for an hour discussing politicalaffairs.
Around is also a preposition.
He used to skip lessons and hang around the harbor with some other boys.
8. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you move things around, you move them so that they are in different places.
She moved things around so the table was beneath the windows.
9. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If a wheel or object turns around, it turns.
The boat started to spin around in the water.
10. preposition
You use around to say that something happens in different parts of a place or area.
There are actually over 400 brands brewed around the country.
Elephants were often to be found in swamp in eastern Kenya around the Tana River.
...pests and diseases around the garden.
Around is also an adverb.
What do you think you're doing following me around?
Giovanni has the best Parma ham for miles around.
11. adverb
If someone or something is around, they exist or are present in a place.
The blackbird had a quick, wary look in case the cat was anywhere around.
Just having lots of people around that you can talk to is important.
You see very little of this wine around these days.
Synonyms: near, close, nearby, handy More Synonyms of around
12. preposition
The people around you are the people who you come into contact with, especially your friends and relatives, and the people you work with.
We change our behaviour by observing the behaviour of those around us.
Those around her would forgive her for weeping.
13. preposition
If something such as a film, a discussion, or a plan is based around something, that thing is its main theme.
...the gentle comedy based around the Larkin family.
The discussion centered around four subjects.
...a government whose economic policy was built around low interest rates.
14. adverb [noun ADVERB, ADVERB after verb]
You use around in expressions such as this time around or to come around when you are describing something that has happened before or things that happen regularly.
Senator Bentsen has declined to get involved this time around.
When July Fourth comes around, the residents of Columbia City throw a noisy party.
15. preposition
When you are giving measurements, you can use around to talk about the distance along the edge of something round.
She was 40 inches around the hips.
16. adverb
Around means approximately.
My salary was around £39,000 plus a car and expenses.
Each follicle can produce around 20 new hairs in a lifetime.
Around is also a preposition.
He expects the elections to be held around November.
17.
See around about
18.
See all around
19.
See has been around/had been around
20. the other way around
21. to get your tongue around something
More Synonyms of around
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
around in British English
(əˈraʊnd)
preposition
1.
situated at various points in
a lot of shelves around the house
2.
from place to place in
driving around Ireland
3.
somewhere in or near
to stay around the house
4.
approximately in
it happened around 1957, I think
adverb
5.
surrounding, encircling, or enclosing
a band around her head
6.
in all directions from a point of reference
they own the land for ten miles around
7.
in the vicinity, esp restlessly but idly
to wait around
stand around
8.
here and there; in no particular place or direction
dotted around
9. informal
(of people) active and prominent in a particular area or profession
some pop stars are around for only a few years
10. informal
present in some place (the exact location being inexact)
he's around here somewhere
11. informal
in circulation; available
these laptops has been around for some years now
12. informal
to many places, so as to have gained considerable experience, often of a worldly or social nature
he gets around
I've been around
▶ USAGE In American English, around is usually used instead of round in adverbial and prepositional senses, except in a few fixed phrases such as all year round. The use of around in adverbial senses is less common in British English
Word origin
C17 (rare earlier): from a-2 + round
around in American English
(əˈraʊnd)
adverb
1.
round
; esp.,
a.
in a circle; along a circular course or circumference
b.
in or through a course or circuit, as from one place to another
c.
on all sides; in every direction
d.
in circumference
e.
in or to the opposite direction, belief, etc.
f.
in various places; here and there
g.
in succession or sequence
his turn came around
h.
in every part of; throughout
the year around
2. Informal
within a close periphery; nearby
stay around
3. US, Informal
to a (specified or understood) place
come around to see us
4. Informal
nearly; approximately; about
around five pounds
preposition
5.
a.
on the circumference, border, or outer part of
b.
so as to encircle
6.
so as to surround or envelop
7.
from the beginning to the end of (a period of time); throughout
8.
so as to rotate or revolve about (an axis or center)
9.
on all sides of; in every direction from
10.
a.
in various places in or on; here and there in; all about
b.
to or through every part or various parts of; in a circuit or course through
11.
a.
so as to make a curve or partial circuit about
b.
at a point reached by making such a circuit about
the house around the corner
12.
so as to master or overcome (an obstacle or problem)
we got around the boss by finding a substitute
13.
in the vicinity of; near to
somewhere around the building
14. US
somewhat close to; about
it happened around 1965
15.
so as to be based on
a speech written around a favorite concept
adjective
16.
on the move; about
he's up and around now
17.
existing; living
when dinosaurs were around
Idioms:
have been around
see also round1
Word origin
ME < a-, on + round1: all senses derive from those of “circling, within a circle”
More idioms containing
around
get your head around something
what goes around comes around
green around the gills
twist someone around your little finger
just around the corner
a millstone around your neck
Examples of 'around' in a sentence
around
There were about five sharks around us and they were so majestic.
The Sun (2016)
We move on foot to some higher ground and look around.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They think it is one global world they should be able to move freely around.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We also wander around the old town.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There was a negative vibe around the place then.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We will be reviewing our policy around free time while on international duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The bunting also needs hedges around fields.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It was a most interesting group of passengers who milled about inside and around the tiny terminal.
Eaton, John P & Haas, Charles A Titanic - Destination disaster (1987)
You can also learn by looking at those around you.
Harris, Jean Everything You Need to Know for Success in Business (1990)
You need a lot of support from people around you.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They swagger around the place and stick together like glue.
The Sun (2010)
This was probably around the time it became the village parsonage.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Fixed minds also help people around you know where you stand and that can be helpful.
O'Keeffe, John Your One Week Way to Mind-Fitness (1994)
But the combination of errors has left those around him concerned about what may be coming next.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Luck takes you to look around an unusual house.
The Sun (2006)
Her father was a civil servant and the family moved around the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His training performances have been first class and he has been first class around the place.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She would be miserable if she just had to follow around all the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Demand from industry is also down by around three per cent.
The Sun (2009)
Its main oddity is its ability to twist its head around and look like a snake.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are fewer people around and no trucks driving up into the mine.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She tells me a story about walking around a toy store with her father when she was eight years old.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The weather improved yesterday, making it easier for rescue workers to move around.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
around
British English: around /əˈraʊnd/ ADVERB
Around means surrounding, or on all sides of.
...a village with hills all around.
American English: around
Arabic: حَوْلَ
Brazilian Portuguese: ao redor
Chinese: 周围
Croatian: uokolo
Czech: okolo
Danish: omkring
Dutch: rondom
European Spanish: alrededor
Finnish: ympärillä
French: autour
German: rundherum
Greek: τριγύρω
Italian: intorno
Japanese: 周りに
Korean: 주위에
Norwegian: rundt (om)
Polish: dookoła
European Portuguese: ao redor
Romanian: de jur împrejur
Russian: всюду
Latin American Spanish: alrededor
Swedish: runt
Thai: รอบๆ
Turkish: çevrili
Ukrainian: навкруги
Vietnamese: bao quanh
British English: around /əˈraʊnd/ PREPOSITION
surrounding Things or people that are around a place or object surround it or are on all sides of it.
There were lots of people around her.
American English: around
Arabic: مِنْ حَوْلِ
Brazilian Portuguese: ao redor de
Chinese: 四处
Croatian: oko
Czech: kolem
Danish: omkring
Dutch: rondom
European Spanish: alrededor de
Finnish: ympäri
French: autour de
German: um ... herum
Greek: περί
Italian: intorno
Japanese: あちこち
Korean: ...의 주위에
Norwegian: omkring
Polish: wokół
European Portuguese: à volta de
Romanian: de jur împrejurul
Russian: вокруг
Latin American Spanish: alrededor de
Swedish: omkring
Thai: ประมาณ
Turkish: etrafında
Ukrainian: навколо
Vietnamese: xung quanh
British English: around /əˈraʊnd/ PREPOSITION
all over You use around to say that something is in every part of a place.
His toys lay around the room.
American English: around
Arabic: في أَرْجَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: por toda parte
Chinese: 四处
Croatian: uokolo
Czech: po celémsvětě apod.
Danish: rundt omkring
Dutch: verspreid in
European Spanish: alrededor de
Finnish: ympäri
French: de part et d'autre de
German: herum
Greek: τριγύρω
Italian: dappertutto
Japanese: ･･･じゅうに
Korean: 빙 둘러서
Norwegian: rundt
Polish: w każdym miejscu
European Portuguese: por
Romanian: pretutindeni
Russian: повсюду
Latin American Spanish: en
Swedish: runt omkring
Thai: รอบๆ
Turkish: her yerinde
Ukrainian: всюди
Vietnamese: khắp
British English: around /əˈraʊnd/ PREPOSITION
near toAround means near to something.
We left around noon.
American English: around
Arabic: حَوَالِي
Brazilian Portuguese: por volta de
Chinese: 大约
Croatian: oko
Czech: okolo
Danish: ca.
Dutch: rond
European Spanish: alrededor de
Finnish: maissa
French: vers
German: um
Greek: γύρω
Italian: intorno a
Japanese: ･･･ごろに
Korean: 주변에
Norwegian: rundt
Polish: około
European Portuguese: perto de
Romanian: în jur de
Russian: около
Latin American Spanish: aproximadamente
Swedish: runt
Thai: ประมาณ
Turkish: civarında
Ukrainian: приблизно
Vietnamese: khoảng
All related terms of 'around'
go around
If you go around to someone's house , you go to visit them at their house.
all-around
You say all around to indicate that something affects all parts of a situation or all members of a group.
arse around
If you say that someone is arsing around or arsing about , you mean that they are behaving in a silly , irritating way instead of getting something done.
ask around
If you ask around or ask round , you ask several people a question .
bat around
to discuss (an idea, proposition , etc) informally
boss around
bum around
If you bum around , you go from place to place without any particular destination , either for enjoyment or because you have nothing else to do.
call around
If you call around , you phone several people, usually when you are trying to organize something or to find some information.
cat around
to search promiscuously for sexual partners ; be promiscuous
come around
If someone comes around or comes round to your house , they call there to see you.
dick around
to spend time wastefully or unprofitably
dig around
If you dig around in a place or container, you search for something in every part of it.
end around
a play in which an offensive end or wide receiver , after running across the field behind the line of scrimmage and taking a handoff from the quarterback , attempts to advance downfield
fart around
to spend time idly, foolishly, etc.
fool around
If you fool around , you behave in a silly , dangerous , or irresponsible way.
fuck around
To fuck around or fuck about means to behave in a way that is silly , stupid , or unnecessary .
fuss around
to engage in idle , aimless , or annoying activity
get around
To get around a problem or difficulty means to overcome it.
goof around
If someone goofs around , they spend their time doing silly things.
hack around
to engage in aimless activity; spend time idly
hand around
If you hand around or hand round something such as food, you pass it from one person to another in a group.
hang around
If you hang around , hang about , or hang round , you stay in the same place doing nothing, usually because you are waiting for something or someone.
hawk around
jack around
to spend time in useless activity
jerk around
If you say that someone is jerking you around , you mean that they are not being honest with you about something.
kick around
If you kick around ideas or suggestions , you discuss them informally.
kid around
to engage in joking , horseplay , etc.
lark around
If you lark around or lark about , you behave in a playful , childish , and silly way, often in order to make people laugh .
lie around
If things are left lying around or lying about , they are not tidied away but left casually somewhere where they can be seen .
loll around
If you loll around or loll about , you enjoy yourself by sitting or lying in a relaxed way.
look around
If you look around or look round a building or place, you walk round it and look at the different parts of it.
mess around
If you mess around or mess about , you spend time doing things without any particular purpose or without achieving anything.
mill around
When a crowd of people mill around or mill about , they move around within a particular place or area, so that the movement of the whole crowd looks very confused .
mope around
If you mope around or mope about a place, you wander around there not doing anything, looking and feeling unhappy .
move around
If you move around or move about , you keep changing your job or keep changing the place where you live .
muck around
If you muck around or muck about , you behave in a childish or silly way, often so that you waste your time and fail to achieve anything.
nose around
If you nose around or nose about , you look around a place that belongs to someone else, to see if you can find something interesting .
pass around
If a group of people pass something around or pass it round , they each take it and then give it to the next person.
piss around
If you say that someone pisses around or pisses about , you mean they waste a lot of time doing unimportant things.
play around
If you play around , you behave in a silly way to amuse yourself or other people.
poke around
If you poke around or poke about for something, you search for it, usually by moving lots of objects around.
push around
If someone pushes you around , they give you orders in a rude and insulting way.
put around
ring around
root around
If you root around or root about in something, you look for something there, moving things around as you search .
run around
If you run around , you go to a lot of places and do a lot of things, often in a rushed or disorganized way.
send around
to put into circulation
shop around
If you shop around , you go to different shops or companies in order to compare the prices and quality of goods or services before you decide to buy them.
show around
If you show someone around or show them round , you go with them to show them all the interesting, useful , or important features of a place when they first visit it.
sit around
If you sit around or sit about , you spend time doing nothing useful or interesting.
Chinese translation of 'around'
around
(əˈraund)
adv
(= about) 到处(處) (dàochù)
⇒ They wandered around.他们到处闲逛。 (Tāmen dàochù xiánguàng.)
prep
(= encircling) 围(圍)绕(繞) (wéirào)
⇒ We were sitting around a table.我们正围绕桌子坐着。 (Wǒmen zhèng wéirào zhuōzi zuòzhe.)
⇒ It measures fifteen feet around the trunk.树干合抱有15英尺。 (Shùgàn hébào yǒu shíwǔ yīngchǐ.)
(= near) 在附近 (zài fùjìn)
⇒ We don't live around here.我们不住在附近。 (Wǒmen bù zhù zài fùjìn.)
I've been walking around Moscow and the town is terribly quiet.
Synonyms
about
all over
everywhere in
1 (adverb)
I turned around and wrote the title on the board.
Synonyms
in the opposite direction
the other way
2 (adverb)
Definition
in no particular place or direction
What are you doing following me around?
Synonyms
everywhere
I looked everywhere but I couldn't find him.
about
The house isn't big enough with three children running about.
throughout
all over
here and there
on all sides
in all directions
to and fro
3 (adverb)
It's important to have lots of people around.
Synonyms
near
As we drew near, I could see that the door was open.
close
nearby
He might easily have been seen by someone who lived nearby.
handy
at hand
Retirement was at hand.
close by
close at hand
related words
related prefixcircum-
Usage note
In American English, around is used more often than round as an adverb and preposition, except in a few fixed phrases such as all year round. In British English, round is more commonly used as an adverb than around.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of at hand
Definition
very close
Retirement was at hand.
Synonyms
approaching,
near,
imminent,
just round the corner
in the sense of nearby
Definition
close at hand
He might easily have been seen by someone who lived nearby.