around
adverb, preposition
UK/əˈraʊnd/US/əˈraʊnd/
in a circular direction or position; in the area or vicinity of; approximately
Example Sentences
My friend lives around the corner from me.
We’ll take a walk around the park this afternoon.
The earth revolves around the sun once a year.
She turned around to face me when I called her name.
You can find several good restaurants around here.
Rumors around the office suggest a major announcement is coming soon.
Instead of driving straight home, he circled around the block repeatedly, hoping to find a parking spot and avoid walking in the rain.
If you look around carefully, you might discover hidden gems in this part of town, from small cafés offering specialty coffees to unique local boutiques showcasing handmade crafts.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Indicates encircling movement, nearby location, or approximate time and quantityThe term “around” is frequently used as both a preposition and an adverb to signal approximate locations, directions, times, or numbers. For instance, when guiding someone, you might say, “The pharmacy is just around the corner,” to show it is nearby in a non-specific direction. In a sentence like, “It’s around five o’clock,” it communicates an approximate time without being exact. If you want to express a rough amount, you could say, “There were around ten people at the meeting.” You might also employ it to describe circular or encircling movement: “He wandered around the park.” In more formal contexts, “around” can still be used to convey these meanings, but be mindful of clarity, especially if precision is important. If you need to be specific, consider substituting more exact prepositions (“about,” “approximately,” or “near”) or exact figures. However, when you only have a general idea, “around” provides a helpful way to communicate that your figure, time, or location isn’t exact. Whether describing a casual meeting time or a general radius of movement, “around” is flexible and concise, suiting a wide range of everyday and professional scenarios.
Alternatives
Depending on the context, different words can capture the sense of “around.” If you need a more numerical approximation, “approximately,” “about,” or “roughly” may be better fits. To convey location or direction, “near,” “close by,” or “in the vicinity” can maintain clarity while avoiding repetition. For describing circular movement, “circling,” “surrounding,” or “encircling” might be more descriptive choices. In everyday speech, “around” often has a casual tone, so if you’re writing formally, you may prefer slightly more precise terms like “approximately” or “about” to indicate uncertainty or an estimate. If emphasizing a looser sense of being nearby rather than exactly next to something, “around” remains versatile, though more specific synonyms like “bordering,” “neighboring,” or “adjoining” can sharpen your language. Matching your choice of synonyms to the tone, context, and intent of your message helps you communicate effectively while keeping your writing or speech fresh, clear, and engaging.
Writing
In writing, “around” effectively conveys approximation or general vicinity without committing you to a precise number, location, or time. For example, if you are explaining statistical outcomes or summarizing data, you could write, “Around 25% of respondents reported a preference for this service.” This signals a ballpark figure, but not a confirmed statistic. However, it’s wise to balance the usage of “around” with more precise language or exact figures whenever you can, especially in academic or technical documents. When describing movement or a location, “around” can paint a casual yet clear picture: “He drove around the city searching for the new office.” That said, consider whether you need tighter specificity. In professional or analytical writing, phrases like “nearby” or “in the surrounding area” might strengthen the clarity of your narrative. Keep in mind that overusing “around” can make your text feel vague or repetitive, so focus on precision where necessary. Ideally, you’ll combine “around” for general statements with concrete details whenever possible, providing thorough yet accessible descriptions for your readers.
Casual Conversation
In day-to-day conversation, “around” serves as a handy, informal way to reference approximate times, locations, or amounts. You might say, “Let’s meet around noon,” if you don’t have a set time, or “There were around ten people at the party” to give a quick headcount. When you’re directing friends, phrases like, “Just walk around the building, and you’ll see the entrance on your left,” convey a friendly, flexible tone without overwhelming them with strict details. If you’re not sure how long something will take, you could say, “I’ll be there around half an hour from now,” signaling an estimate rather than a precise schedule. In casual speech, “around” is often paired with other approximations like “about,” “roughly,” or “somewhere near,” giving you multiple ways to express uncertainty or a general idea. This relaxed approach suits social settings where exact numbers or strict precision might not be necessary. Whether you’re grabbing coffee with a friend or texting to set plans, the flexibility of “around” keeps your language natural and approachable.
Etymology
The word “around” emerged from combining “on” or “in” with the Old English term “rund,” which reflected circular motion or shape. Over time, Middle English borrowed such forms and molded them into the modern sense of “around,” implying movement in a circle, proximity, or approximation. This development mirrored changes in everyday speech, as people needed a concise way to describe spatial or figurative circling and general nearness. While originally tied more closely to physical rotation or surrounding space, “around” gradually took on looser, more conceptual uses, such as indicating approximate numbers or time frames. In essence, this evolutionary process captures the adaptable nature of the English language: a single term once focused on the notion of encircling can now effortlessly shift to describing uncertainty, rough estimates, or broad vicinity. Such flexibility underscores how language can grow from literal descriptions of motion to more abstract, wide-ranging applications in daily communication.