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Added 4 October 2026

around

/əˈɹaʊnd/ preposition

In Latin: circa, circum Wiktionary

preposition Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about around at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Forming a circle or closed curve containing (something).
She wore a gold chain around her neck.
Centred upon; surrounding; regarding.
We could use some clarification around the new rules.
Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point.
We walked around the football field.

adjective

Present in the vicinity.
Is Clare around today?
Alive; existing.
The record store on Main Street? Yes, it's still around.

adverb

So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof.
High above, vultures circled around.
So as to surround or be near.
Everybody please gather around.
Nearly; approximately; about.
Around a thousand people attended.

Origin

From Middle English around, arounde, from a- (from Old English a- (“on, at”)) + Middle English round (“circle, round”) borrowed from French, equivalent to a- + round. Cognate with Scots aroond, aroon (“around”). Displaced earlier Middle English umbe, embe (“around”) (from Old English ymbe (“around”)).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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