Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to be around

to be around

∞ 1.3
Exist or stay in a place for a time and be available if needed
  • phrasal verb
  • /bi əˈraʊnd/
: estar disponible
  • "Well, I've seen a lot of life, I've been around, and I know when things hurt.
  • been around long
  • been around for decades
  • be around people

So this one has been around for quite a while.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I'm going to be around you a lot.

    Kindergarten Cop (1990)

  • Maybe if I'd been around more when he was growing up, things would've been different.

    Absolution (2024)

  • It's it's nice to be around family right now.

  • All I wanted to do was be around her and feel that.

  • Or you can take a chance and be around other bigger fish.

  • So you gonna be around later or not?

    Blood Hook (1987)

  • Indeed, it was difficult for me to be around the two of them.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I don't like being around people most of the time.

  • Miss Sarah, I'm always happy when you're around.

    Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013)

  • It's comforting to know that family will always be around during tough times.

Synonyms

to hang around
vsto be around
  • Informal
334 2.0

To stay in a place without doing anything important

is about being present or available rather than purposeless lingering
to be there for
vsto be around
  • Informal
327 2.7

To help and support someone when they are going through a hard time

is present generally or available without focusing only on support
to stick around
vsto be around
  • Informal
326 2.9

Stay in a place to wait for something

is present or available but does not imply waiting
to stick about
vsto be around
  • UK
1 4.1

Stay nearby or wait in a place for a short time

is available or present without implying short duration

Antonyms

away
474 1.0

Not in a place because someone has gone somewhere else

to absent
2 6.8

To stay away on purpose from a place or event when you should be there

How Available

on hand
108 2.1
available
377 2.3
to be around
∞ 1.3
presence
∞ 2.1
nearby
358 1.0

Surface Forms

be around infinitive
was around past
been around past participle
being around present participle
is around third person singular

Morphology

be + around

The meaning 'to be present or available' is directly derivable from combining 'be' (to exist) with 'around' (in the immediate area). This simple verb + locative/adverb pattern is common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Be around comes from the simple image of someone staying near or moving around a place, so they are close and easy to find. That's why it means 'to be present' or 'available to help'.