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Glite Dictionary
all-around

all-around

29 4.4
A person who can do many different things well
  • adjective
  • /ˈɔːl əˈraʊnd/
  • US
translation icon : versátil
  • She is an all-around musician, able to play multiple instruments beautifully.
  • the good all-around
  • an all-around student

It visibly brightens the skin and it's just an all around great acid.

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Examples

  • Kim is the head of the Dance Club and an all-around athlete ranked number one on the girls' tennis team.

    Prom Night (1980)

  • After a sluggish start, he played an all-around good game and stepped it up.

    Blog text (17)

  • This phone is basically the most complete all around phone you can buy, which is why I say it sets the bar.

  • Incredible thought leader, podcast host, author, you know, all around amazing person to follow on Instagram.

  • He's really just a good all around guy.

    25,000 Miles to Glory (2015)

  • This is quite simply the best all around car I've ever tested.

  • Today, Trippi is still regarded by many as the best all-around football player.

    Academic text (2014)

  • BG played a great all-around game coming off pick and rolls, making good reads.

    Blog text (16)

  • Brad says we've got the best all around team we've ever had, a cinch to win first place in the intercollegiate meet.

    Hercules in New York (1970)

  • Charlie is also the curator of TEDxDetroit, a seasoned speaker, and an all-around creative branding expert.

    Blog text (2)

Synonyms

versatile
vsall-around
55 6.3

Able to be used in many different ways and do many jobs

emphasizes having many skills and broad competence
well-rounded
vsall-around
24 4.1

Having many different skills, experiences, and interests

focuses more on practical multiple skills rather than balanced development
wide-ranging
vsall-around
23 4.1

Covering many different subjects or areas

is about many personal skills and abilities rather than broad subject scope
multifaceted
vsall-around
15 5.9

Having many different parts or sides

highlights many skills and abilities instead of just varied aspects
many-faceted
vsall-around
1 5.8

Having many different parts or qualities

focuses on multiple skills and overall competence rather than just aspects
many-sided
vsall-around
1 4.1

Having many different parts or qualities

leans more toward many practical skills rather than mere variety
all-round
vsall-around
  • UK
3.7

Able to do many different tasks well

is the same idea but given as the alternative common form

Antonyms

narrow
181 2.6

Limited in range or what it covers, often about ideas

specialized
  • US
70 5.4

Made for a particular job, activity, or area

How Versatile

all-around
  • US
29 4.4
well-rounded
24 4.1
versatile
55 6.3
adaptable
23 3.4

Surface Forms

all-around positive
all-round positive

Morphology

all-around = all (transparent) = around + all

Meaning is directly composed from 'all' + 'around' to indicate versatility or coverage in many respects. [Postprocessing: moved 'around' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

All-around comes from the simple parts all and around, which together mean 'on every side' or 'everywhere'. So an all-around person or thing is good in many different areas and has many skills.