encompassing

[ en-kuhm-puh-sing ]

adjective

1. forming a circle around something; encircling or surrounding:

   She serves the whole Anchorage real estate market, including the encompassing communities.

2. comprehensively including, addressing, or dealing with all parts or aspects of something:

   Whether as a regular treatment or a special indulgence, your fully encompassing spa experience will leave you looking and feeling fantastic!

3. fully enclosing or enveloping something:

   As she looked out reflectively over the lake, the encompassing quiet was sliced by the shrill sound of her cell phone.

noun

1. the act or state of surrounding, enclosing, or comprehensively including something:

   The term “diaspora” allows for the encompassing of a wider range of people and experiences than “immigrants.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of encompassing¹

First recorded in 1565–75; encompass ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; encompass ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

GSD, the most encompassing iteration of state-level pushback against GOP rule in Washington, is supposed to be nonpartisan, but Pritzker and Polis did not mention any GOP participants in the press call.

From Salon

Police added the large cordon encompassing several nearby streets remained in place after the blaze was extinguished due to ongoing safety concerns, but this would be continually reviewed and adapted by experts.

From BBC

In Pennsylvania's 8th district, Republicans flipped one seat in the district encompassing President Joe Biden's hometown of Scranton.

From BBC

The rural district stretches from Coalinga to Modesto, encompassing Merced County and parts of Fresno, Madera, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.

From Los Angeles Times

Workers at Duarte Nursery also filed nearly four dozen claims for workers’ compensation during the years that Duarte was president, encompassing about 150 reported injuries.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• enveloping