# around

/ɝˈaʊn/ (US) · /ɐɹˈaʊnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/around
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Senses

### 1. facing the other way

adverb · CEFR A1

to turn so that you are facing the opposite direction.

For teachers: indicating a partial or complete rotation to face the opposite direction.

- He heard a loud noise behind him and turned around quickly.
- The captain ordered the vessel to turn around immediately upon realizing they had drifted into restricted territorial waters.

### 2. approximately

adverb · CEFR A2

used to show that a number or time is not exact.

For teachers: functioning as a degree adverb to indicate an approximate value or time.

- The repair job should cost around fifty dollars.
- The archaeological team estimated that the ruins dated back to around the fourth century, though carbon dating was still pending.

### 3. nearby or present

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to be in a place or available nearby.

For teachers: indicating presence in the vicinity or general availability.

- Is there a manager around to help me with this problem?
- Although the technology has been around for decades, it has only recently become affordable for the average consumer.

### 4. to various places

adverb · CEFR A2

moving from one place to another without a specific goal.

For teachers: indicating movement or distribution to various points within an area.

- We spent the afternoon walking around the old part of the city.
- The tourists spent the morning wandering around the museum, occasionally stopping to admire the more prominent exhibits.

### 5. surrounding something

preposition · CEFR A1

on all sides of something or in a circle.

For teachers: indicating a position that encircles or encompasses an object or area.

- The children sat in a circle around the campfire.
- The ancient stone wall runs around the entire perimeter of the estate, providing both privacy and a clear boundary.

### 6. near a place

preposition · CEFR A1

in the area near a specific place.

For teachers: indicating proximity to a specific location or landmark.

- I think I left my umbrella somewhere around the office.
- There are several excellent restaurants located around the main square, though they tend to be quite expensive during the peak season.

### 7. still existing

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

still alive, active, or famous.

For teachers: describing someone or something that remains active, influential, or in existence.

- That band has been around since the 1970s.
- Despite the rise of digital media, printed newspapers are still around, though their circulation numbers have dropped significantly.

## Examples

- The children ran around the tree.
- We spent the whole afternoon walking around the city center looking for a gift.
- The satellite maintains a stable orbit around the planet, providing constant data to the research stations located across the southern hemisphere.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He arrived at around of five o'clock" but "He arrived at around five o'clock" — When used to mean 'approximately', the word is a preposition or adverb and does not take 'of'.

## Usage notes

- Often used to indicate movement with no specific destination or to describe a position surrounding an object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.