- around*/*/*/
- [əˈraʊnd]grammar word summary: Around can be: ■ a preposition: We walked around the old town. ■ an adverb: She turned around and smiled at me. ■ used after the verb ‘to be': Don't discuss this when the children are around.1) in or to many places in or to many different parts or areasWe drove around looking for a hotel.[/ex]I glanced around the room, but I couldn't see him.[/ex]The Games were watched by millions of people around the world.[/ex]2) in the opposite direction moving so that you face in the opposite directionI turned around to see what the noise was.[/ex]3) to the other side moving to the other side of somethingAt that moment a truck came around the corner.[/ex]4) in a place in or close to a placethe quiet country roads around Chester[/ex]There's a phone around here somewhere.[/ex]Is your wife around? I'd like to talk to her.[/ex]5) moving in circles moving in a circular wayThe Earth goes around the Sun.[/ex]The wheels spun around.[/ex]6) surrounding sth surrounding or enclosing somethingArrange the chairs around the table.[/ex]a cottage with woods all around[/ex]Sam had his arm around Mandy's waist.[/ex]7) not exact used for giving a number, amount, or time that is not exactSyn:approximatelyThere must have been around 500 people there.[/ex]We got back at around 11.[/ex]8) doing nothing useful spending time not doing anything important or usefulWe got tired of waiting around.[/ex]9) existing now available or existing at this timeThere are some really good new video games around.[/ex]It's one of the biggest shopping centres around.[/ex]
Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.