circle
gb/sˈɚkəl/ us/sˈɚkəl/
A2
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
perfectly round flat shape
A flat round shape where every point is the same distance from the middle.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] circle
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'circle' with 'sphere'; a sphere is 3D, a circle is flat.
Synonyms
ring (Often used for circular objects with empty centers, but not always strictly geometric.)
Antonyms
line (A straight one-dimensional figure, unlike a curved closed shape.)
Collocations
draw a circle
|perfect circle
|small circle
|circle shape
|circle diagram
Themes
geometry
|math
|daily life
|science
|education
Examples
- She drew a large circle on the paper.
- The coins were arranged in a perfect circle.
- The children sat in a circle on the floor.
- A red circle marks the spot on the map.
Learner examples
- I can draw a big circle.
- We sit in a circle to talk.
- The sun looks like a circle in the sky.
Noun
B1
entity
2
group with shared interests
A group of people who know each other and share the same interests.
Usage pattern:
a circle of [people/friends/colleagues]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'circle' here with physical shape; context shows it means group of people.
Synonyms
group (More general; does not imply shared interest or exclusivity as strongly as 'circle'.)
Antonyms
outsider (Someone not part of a group or circle.)
Collocations
close circle
|social circle
|inner circle
|professional circle
Themes
social
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- He quickly became part of her social circle.
- Writers often move in literary circles.
- Her inner circle advised her to take the job.
Learner examples
- I have a small circle of friends.
- He joined a new social circle at work.
- They are in the same music circle.
Verb
B1
action
3
move around something
To go around someone or something in a round path.
Usage pattern:
to circle [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'circle' as verb with 'cycle'; 'cycle' means to ride a bicycle or go through stages.
Synonyms
encircle (More formal and often implies surrounding completely.)
Antonyms
approach directly (To move straight toward without going around.)
Collocations
circle around
|circle overhead
|circle back
Themes
movement
|navigation
|space
|travel
Examples
- The plane circled over the airport before landing.
- Sharks were circling the boat.
- She circled the block looking for parking.
Learner examples
- The bird circles in the sky.
- We circled the park on our bikes.
- The plane circles before it lands.
Noun
B2
event
4
repeating route or process
A set of events that goes back to the start and happens again.
Synonyms
cycle ('Cycle' is more common in technical or scientific contexts; 'circle' can be figurative.)
Antonyms
breakthrough (An event that changes a repeating situation.)
Collocations
vicious circle
|full circle
Themes
processes
|patterns
|core_vocabulary
|time
Examples
- They were caught in a vicious circle of debt and borrowing.
- The conversation went in circles without resolution.
- History often moves in circles.
Learner examples
- We are in a vicious circle of problems.
- The talk went in circles and did not end well.
- Life can feel like a circle sometimes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
circle
IPA
GB/sˈɚkəl/
US/sˈɚkəl/
Syllables & stress
circle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (circle)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: circle
- Plural: circles
Verb
- Base: circle
- 3rd Person Singular: circles
- Present Participle: circling
- Past: circled
Word family
Forms
circles
noun
circling
verb
circled
verb
Core family
Related words
semicircle
noun
encircle
verb
Advanced or less common
circularly
adverb
circulatory
adjective
Expressions
come full circle
1/kˈʌm fˈʊl sˈɚkəl/
idiom
return to original state
To end up back where you started after changes or events.
Examples
- After years abroad, he has come full circle and is living in his hometown again.
- The company came full circle, returning to its original business model.
run circles around (someone)
1/ɹˈʌn sˈɚkəlz ɚˈaʊnd sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
informal
perform much better than someone else
To be much better or faster at doing something than another person.
Examples
- She can run circles around the other players on the team.
- The new software runs circles around its competitors.
square the circle
1/skwˈɛɹ ðə sˈɚkəl/
idiom
attempt impossible task
To try to do something that is impossible or very hard to do.
Examples
- Trying to make everyone happy is like trying to square the circle.
- They attempted to square the circle by cutting costs without reducing quality.
inner circle
1/ˈɪnɚ sˈɚkəl/
fixed phrase
Close group around leader
A small group of people who are very close to and trusted by a leader.
Examples
- Only members of the inner circle knew about the plan.
- Only members of the president's inner circle knew about the plan.
- He was part of the president's inner circle.
- She was part of his inner circle of advisors.
vicious circle
1/vˈɪʃəs sˈɚkəl/
idiom
self-worsening problem loop
A bad situation in which one problem causes another problem, and together they keep making the whole situation worse again and again.
Examples
- Poverty and poor health can create a vicious circle.
- Many families are trapped in a vicious circle of poverty and poor education.
- They are trapped in a vicious circle of debt.
- Stress can create a vicious circle: you sleep badly, feel worse, and then worry even more.
- The more he drank, the more depressed he felt, and he couldn’t escape the vicious circle.