to encircle

Examples

• All

• Grass was set with flagged stepping-stones, and these encircled a swimming pool, aquamarine and still as glass.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Meteorologists speak of a nebulous veil of air pollution encircling the entire planet.

  Academic text (1993)

• Could Alexander really be trying to encircle their huge army?

• - As you encircle the animal, move closer until you have him tied securely.

  Godmonster of Indian Flats (1973)

• At both points, our troops are encircled.

  Darkest Hour (2017)

• Then, on the seventh day, they encircle the city seven times, and the priests give a long blast on their horns.

  Patterns of Evidence: The Exodus (2015)

• To protect the living, the Grand Barrier was built, a 100-foot wall encircling London.

  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

• Far off to the north and west, the mountains stood up half-encircling Omelas on her bay.

  Fiction book (1991)

• I am a fugitive in neutral Switzerland, encircled by the Axis powers.

  Youth Without Youth (2007)

• They planned a flanking move with their armor, mortars, and machine guns to encircle the battery and take out the guns.

  The Wereth Eleven (2011)

Synonyms

S

to surround

vsto encircle

∞ 1.7

To be all around a person or thing on every side

is more specific about forming a neat circular ring

R

to ring

vsto encircle

87 2.5

To form a circle around something to surround it

is broader, not limited to physical bands

C

to circle

vsto encircle

70 2.0

To draw a line around something to show it

is about surrounding completely in a circular way

E

to envelop

vsto encircle

41 4.5

To surround something completely, like fog or darkness

is focused on encircling in a clear circular way

G

to gird

vsto encircle

3 8.5

To put a belt or band around something to hold it in place

is a general circular surrounding, not limited to bands

C

to compass

vsto encircle

• Archaic

1 7.4

To surround something completely

is specifically about forming a circle around

E

to environ

vsto encircle

1 8.8

To surround something on all sides

is more specific about creating a circular shape around

E

to englobe

vsto encircle

8.4

Completely surround something, often in a round shape like a ball

is about forming a flat circular enclosure rather than a sphere

Antonyms

D

to disperse

104 4.4

To cause people and things, like a crowd or fog, to spread over a wide area

How Surrounded

to enclose

84 3.7

to encircle

33 3.4

to surround

∞ 1.7

to border

12 3.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology