circling 1 of 2

adjective

as in swirling

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circling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of circle
1
as in surrounding
to form a circle around everyone circled the lectern and waited their turn to read from the Bible

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in orbiting
to travel completely around with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of circling
Verb
Minutes later the pike was just under the surface, circling close to the boat. — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026 Other wearable tech companies have been circling this space. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 17 June 2026 Screams could be heard in the background of many videos circling social media, and posts showed some fans trying to climb through air vents to gain entry. — ABC News, 26 June 2026 Soon the sky would grow thick with circling helicopters and would stay that way for more than a week, the cutting of their rotor blades ominous and heartbreaking. — Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026 The evening of the shoot, there was frequent hum of tourist helicopters circling the island, and a few party boats blasting music, which threatened to put a damper on the plans. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026 Around the time that the drone appeared, two aircraft began following the Fiorella, descending toward it, climbing away, and circling. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 Iceland’s Ring Road is a natural fit for an EV road trip, circling the island for about 820 miles past waterfalls, black sand beaches, glacier lagoons, lava fields, fjords and fishing towns. — Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Mubi is among the distributors still circling the film starring Andrew Garfield as Altman, which Amazon exited several months after striking a significant partnership with Open AI. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circling
  1. swirling
  2. surrounding
  3. orbiting
  4. spiral
  5. encircling
  6. traversing
  7. spiraling
  8. crossing
Adjective
  • However, the situation for gas giants is somewhat more complicated because of their swirling atmospheres.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 July 2026
  • Scrape banana cream mixture on top of cake and spread out until nearly to edges, swooping and swirling decoratively.
    — Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of swirling
Verb
  • The council would then examine the details surrounding the change before passing an ordinance expanding those voting rights.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • The design is open and clean, with a deliberate choice to draw the surrounding scenery deep into the interior of the home.
    — Bridget Borgobello July 03, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
Definition of surrounding
Verb
  • For a generation of millennial founders and the professionals orbiting them, the most consequential business development of the year is happening nowhere near an office, a conference badge, or a LinkedIn message.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been probing for atmospheres around other rocky worlds orbiting red dwarfs, such as those in the TRAPPIST-1 system.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of orbiting
Adjective
  • Our planet sits along one of the galaxy’s spiral arms, about halfway from the center, according to NASA.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Things rapidly spiral out of control for the quartet as a waking nightmare, filled with ghostly figures and sudden disappearances, unfolds.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of spiral
Verb
  • Cheers roared from the crowd encircling the concrete arena as two skateboarders slammed into each other at top speed.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
  • Styled by Brad Goreski, Moore wore a custom cobalt blue Self Portrait gown with an oversized bow encircling the hips, falling into a train.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 22 May 2026
Definition of encircling
Verb
  • From the Higgs to the Next Frontier The road to the FCC remains long, and Europe has been traversing it for years.
    — Florencia Canelli, Scientific American, 1 July 2026
  • Spending a year in California versus a month traversing small town America is a big difference.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of traversing
Adjective
  • The basic idea is that when anxiety spikes, pulling out a few sensory-engaging items can stave off panic by interrupting spiraling thoughts.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Still annoyed, weirdly offended, and slightly spiraling.
    — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of spiraling
Verb
  • Prosecutors said the children were then transported to El Paso after crossing the border.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Hopes have risen that crude supplies will improve markedly with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that’s key for the world’s oil transport, even though the number of ships crossing the strait is still limited.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of crossing

Browse Nearby Words

circlets
circling
circuit
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Cite this Entry

“Circling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circling. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on circling

Nglish: Translation of circling for Spanish Speakers

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