around

around

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Pronunciation

PA Phonetic Spelling

• /əˈraʊnd/ (General American, Received Pronunciation)

• a - /ə/ (schwa, unstressed, as in "about")

• round - /raʊnd/ (as in "round" or "found")

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Word Form Variations

Around" primarily functions as an adverb or preposition. It doesn't have singular/plural forms, tense inflections, or other variations common to nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

• Adverb: around

• Preposition: around

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adverb

1. On every side of something; surrounding it.

• Example: "The fence goes all the way around the property."

• Synonyms: encircling, encompassing, surrounding, on all sides

• Antonyms: through, inside, centrally

2. In a circular motion; rotating.

• Example: "The Earth spins around the sun."

• Synonyms: circularly, in circles, rotating, revolving, round

• Antonyms: straight, directly, linearly

3. In the vicinity; near to a particular place.

• Example: "Is there a coffee shop around here?"

• Synonyms: nearby, close by, in the vicinity, locally

• Antonyms: far away, distant, nowhere near

4. From one place to another within an area; to various parts of a place.

• Example: "He travels a lot, always moving around."

• Synonyms: about, hither and thither, here and there, from place to place

• Antonyms: stationary, fixed, in one place

5. Approximately; about. (Informal)

• Example: "It's somewhere around five o'clock."

• Synonyms: approximately, roughly, nearly, close to

• Antonyms: precisely, exactly, sharply

Preposition

1. On every side of (something); surrounding.

• Example: "There were trees around the lake."

• Synonyms: encircling, encompassing, surrounding, about

• Antonyms: through, inside, in the middle of

2. So as to turn and face the other way.

• Example: "She walked around the corner."

• Synonyms: past, by, on the other side of

• Antonyms: straight through, across

3. To or on the other side of (something).

• Example: "The shop is just around the block."

• Synonyms: past, beyond, on the far side of

• Antonyms: in front of, within

4. Located or situated near (something).

• Example: "There are many historical sites around Rome."

• Synonyms: near, close to, in the vicinity of

• Antonyms: far from, distant from

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 Examples of Use

• Books:

• "He spent his days walking around the old city, observing its hidden corners and forgotten histories." (Fictitious example, to illustrate a common literary use of describing movement within a space.)

• Newspapers:

• "Concerns are growing around the world about the impact of climate change on coastal communities." (The Guardian)

• Online Publications:

• "Tips for staying productive when working from home, even with distractions around you." (Forbes.com)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• "The world doesn't revolve around you!" (Common exasperated dialogue in TV sitcoms, e.g., Seinfeld, 1989-1998)

• "Today, we're building a fence all the way around the backyard." (YouTube home improvement channel)

• "This new update adds a secret level hidden somewhere around the old factory." (Video game review on IGN.com)

• General Public Discourse:

• "Is there a grocery store around here?"

• "He turns around and walks away."

• "It's around five o'clock, so we should probably head out."

• "Let's ask around to see if anyone has seen my lost dog."

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10 Quotes Using Around

1. "What goes around, comes around." (Proverb, widely attributed)

2. "The world doesn't revolve around you!" (Common idiom, widely used in film and general discourse)

3. "I'll be around." (Common phrase promising continued presence or return, famously used by characters like Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator)

4. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can lead a politician to the truth, but you can't make him think. You just have to work around them." (Often attributed to various cynical observers – Correction: The last part is a common cynical addition, not a famous quote.)

5. "Just give me a call if you need me; I'll be around." (A common conversational reassurance, famous by ubiquity)

6. "He looked around, but saw no one who could help him." (Common narrative descriptive line in literature and film)

7. "Put your arms around me, baby." (A common lyric in many romantic songs across genres)

8. "My old man used to say, 'Never chase a bus or a woman. There'll always be another one around.'" (Common humorous saying, often attributed to older male figures)

9. "The truth is out there, somewhere. We just have to look around." (A common sentiment in mystery/discovery narratives, echoing The X-Files theme)

10. "Life's a game, you gotta play it. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you just spin around." (Original quote reflecting a common philosophical sentiment about chance)

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Etymology

The word "around" describes being on every side of something, or in the vicinity. Its history comes from combining "on" and "round."

It's a compound word formed from two Old English elements:

• "on": meaning "in" or "upon."

• "round": from Old French "roont," meaning "circle" or "sphere." This "round" ultimately comes from Latin "rotundus," meaning "circular."

So, the phrase "on round" literally meant "in a circle" or "in a circular motion."

The first known use of "around" as a combined word in English appeared in the late 13th century (around the 1200s), initially often written as "on rounde." Its original meaning was consistent with its literal parts: in a circular motion or on every side of something. Over centuries, its meaning broadened to include being in the vicinity, approximately, or from place to place.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Around

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "around":

• Around the clock (continuously, day and night)

• Get around (to move from place to place; to evade a rule or problem)

• Come around (to visit; to recover consciousness; to change one's opinion)

• Mess around (to behave in a silly or unproductive way)

• Wrap one's head around (to understand a complex concept)

• Around the bend (crazy; insane)

• All around (in every direction; universally)

• Ask around (to inquire among several people)

• Be around (to be present; to exist)

• Beat around the bush (to avoid coming to the point)

• Hang around (to wait or loiter)

• Knock around (to spend time idly; to travel widely)

• Run around (to be very busy; to spend time with different people)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of around from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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