encompass
verb
en·com·pass
in-ˈkəm-pəs 
en-,
also -ˈkäm-
encompassed; encompassing; encompasses
1
a
: include, comprehend
a plan that encompasses a number of aims
b
: envelop
2
a
: to form a circle about : enclose
b
obsolete
: to go completely around
3
: bring about, accomplish
encompass a task
Synonyms
Examples of encompass in a Sentence
The district encompasses most of the downtown area.
a neighborhood encompassed by a highway
Recent Examples on the Web
The worry is that our remembrance will whittle down Jones’s vast career—spanning sixty years and encompassing more than two hundred turns in the theatre, on film, and on television—to, as with Plutarch’s nightingale picked clean, vox et praeterea nihil: a voice and nothing more.
—
Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
In the context of the exhibit, Delgado added, the natural world encompasses the full scope of the universe, both the known and unknown: Earth, other planets, moons, stars, galaxies and all potential life within.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
Zone 4 encompasses part of the city's northwest side, while Zone 5 encompasses part of the near-southwest side.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2024
The park encompasses nearly 20,000 acres as part of the Maricopa County Park System.
—Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encompass 
Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
In the context of the exhibit, Delgado added, the natural world encompasses the full scope of the universe, both the known and unknown: Earth, other planets, moons, stars, galaxies and all potential life within.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
Zone 4 encompasses part of the city's northwest side, while Zone 5 encompasses part of the near-southwest side.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2024
The park encompasses nearly 20,000 acres as part of the Maricopa County Park System.
—Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encompass
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'encompass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near encompass
Cite this Entry
“Encompass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encompass. Accessed 23 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
encompass
verb
en·com·pass
in-ˈkəm-pəs
-ˈkäm-
1
: to form a circle about : surround
2
a
: to cover or surround especially so as to hide or protect
b
: to take in as a part : include
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