around
- 01 A1 Beginner
adv.to turn so that you are facing the opposite direction.
adv.indicating a partial or complete rotation to face the opposite direction.
Simple“He heard a loud noise behind him and turned around quickly.”
In context“The captain ordered the vessel to turn around immediately upon realizing they had drifted into restricted territorial waters.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
adv.used to show that a number or time is not exact.
adv.functioning as a degree adverb to indicate an approximate value or time.
Simple“The repair job should cost around fifty dollars.”
In context“The archaeological team estimated that the ruins dated back to around the fourth century, though carbon dating was still pending.”
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
adv.to be in a place or available nearby.
adv.indicating presence in the vicinity or general availability.
Simple“Is there a manager around to help me with this problem?”
In context“Although the technology has been around for decades, it has only recently become affordable for the average consumer.”
- 04 A2 Elementary
adv.moving from one place to another without a specific goal.
adv.indicating movement or distribution to various points within an area.
Simple“We spent the afternoon walking around the old part of the city.”
In context“The tourists spent the morning wandering around the museum, occasionally stopping to admire the more prominent exhibits.”
Synonymsabouthere and there - 05 A1 Beginner
prep.on all sides of something or in a circle.
prep.indicating a position that encircles or encompasses an object or area.
Simple“The children sat in a circle around the campfire.”
In context“The ancient stone wall runs around the entire perimeter of the estate, providing both privacy and a clear boundary.”
Synonyms - 06 A1 Beginner
prep.in the area near a specific place.
prep.indicating proximity to a specific location or landmark.
Simple“I think I left my umbrella somewhere around the office.”
In context“There are several excellent restaurants located around the main square, though they tend to be quite expensive during the peak season.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.still alive, active, or famous.
adj.describing someone or something that remains active, influential, or in existence.
Simple“That band has been around since the 1970s.”
In context“Despite the rise of digital media, printed newspapers are still around, though their circulation numbers have dropped significantly.”
Often used to indicate movement with no specific destination or to describe a position surrounding an object.
When used to mean 'approximately', the word is a preposition or adverb and does not take 'of'.
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”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.