Meaning of around In English

• 0 in a position or direction surrounding, or in a direction going along the edge of or from one part to another (of):

  • We sat around the table.

  • He put his arm around her.

  • A crowd had gathered around the scene of the accident.

  • She had a scarf around her neck.

  • The moon goes around the earth.

  • I walked around the side of the building.

  • As the bus left, she turned around (= so that she was facing in the opposite direction) and waved goodbye to us.

  • He put the wheel on the right/wrong way around (= facing the right/wrong way).

  • The children were dancing around the room.

  • I spent a year travelling around Africa and Asia.

  • The museum's collection includes works of art from all around the world.

  • She passed a plate of biscuits around (= from one person to another).

  • This virus has been going around (= from one person to another).

• 1 positioned or moving in or near a place, often without a clear direction, purpose, or order:

  • He always leaves his clothes lying around (on the floor).

  • She went into town and spent two hours just walking around.

  • Let's take the children to the park so they can run around for a while.

  • I used to live around (= near) here.

  • She's never around (= near here) when you need her.

  • Will you be around next week?

  • There's a lot of flu around (= a lot of people have it) at the moment.

  • Smartphones have been around (= existed) for quite a while.

• 2 approximately:

  • around six feet tall

  • around two months ago

  • around four o'clock

  • She earns around $40,000 a year.

• 3 in a position or direction surrounding, along the outside of, or from one part of to another:

  • We sat around the table.

  • Go around to the back of the house and come in through the kitchen.

  • We drove around town for a while, looking for a place to park.

  • She turned around (= so that she was facing in the opposite direction) and waved goodbye.

  • fig. He built his story around the theme of spiritual loneliness.

• 4 in or to many parts of or all directions:

  • Car phones are common all around the country.

  • People came from miles around.

• 5 positioned or moving in or near a place:

  • I used to live around here.

  • Will you guys be around next week?

• 6 about; approximately:

  • Around 40 people showed up.

  • He arrived in Kansas City around 1984.