Synonyms

encircle

American

[en-sur-kuhl] / ɛnˈsɜr kəl /

verb (used with object)

encircled, encircling

to form a circle around; surround; encompass.

to encircle an enemy.
to make a circling movement around; make the circuit of.

encircle British

/ ɪnˈsɜːkəl /

verb

(tr) to form a circle around; enclose within a circle; surround

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

encirclement noun
encircling adjective
unencircled adjective

Etymology

Origin of encircle

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; en- ¹, circle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The backyard trees shade and encircle it, keep it tucked away.

From Literature

A collar of bones encircled her short neck, some poor dead animal’s rib cage fanning up and around her head.

From Literature

Our beautiful encircling topography of mountains and hills is a bowl ready-made by ancient plate tectonics to be filled with smoke and smog.

From Los Angeles Times

Several thousand people compete for spots in the lots and decks that encircle the headquarters.

From The Wall Street Journal

The new English coast path links with the Wales Coast Path - an 870-mile route encircling the Welsh coastline.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023