roundabout
gb/ɹˈaʊndəbˌaʊt/ us/ɹˈaʊndəbˌaʊt/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
circular road junction
a circular place in the road where cars go around and then exit
Usage pattern:
at the roundabout; take [ordinal/number] exit at the roundabout
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse a roundabout with a simple intersection/crossroads; on a roundabout you drive around a central island before exiting.
Synonyms
traffic circle (Common alternative term, especially in North America.)
|
rotary (Regional (US) term for a roundabout.)
Collocations
take the first/second/third exit
|go around the roundabout
|enter the roundabout
|exit the roundabout
|mini-roundabout
|busy roundabout
|traffic at the roundabout
|approach the roundabout
|signal at the roundabout
|roundabout junction
Themes
travel
|transport
|driving
|city_life
Examples
- At the roundabout, take the second exit toward the city centre.
- There was a long queue of cars approaching the roundabout.
- The new roundabout has reduced accidents at the junction.
Learner examples
- Turn left at the roundabout.
- Take the first exit.
adjective
B2
property
2
indirect, not straightforward
not direct; using a long or unclear way
Usage pattern:
a roundabout [answer/way/route/method]
Common mistake:
Do not use it to mean physically 'round' (circular). It usually means 'indirect' when describing speech, explanations, or routes.
Synonyms
indirect (Most general synonym; less image-based.)
|
circuitous (Often describes routes or long, winding processes.)
|
long-winded (Focuses on using too many words when speaking or writing.)
Antonyms
direct (Goes straight to the point without detours.)
|
straightforward (Easy to understand and not complicated.)
Collocations
a roundabout way
|a roundabout route
|a roundabout answer
|a roundabout explanation
|a roundabout method
|a rather roundabout manner
|a roundabout approach
|a roundabout reference
|in a roundabout way
|a roundabout conversation
Themes
communication
|daily_life
|thinking
Examples
- He gave a roundabout answer instead of saying yes or no.
- We took a roundabout route to avoid the traffic on the main road.
- Her explanation was so roundabout that I still didn’t understand the plan.
Learner examples
- Please give me a direct answer, not a roundabout one.
Noun
A2
entity
3
spinning playground ride
a playground ride that spins
Usage pattern:
on the roundabout; play on the roundabout
Common mistake:
In American English this is more often called a merry-go-round; in British English roundabout is common for the playground ride.
Synonyms
merry-go-round (Common term, especially in North America.)
|
carousel (Often refers to a larger fairground ride, frequently with horses.)
Collocations
play on the roundabout
|push the roundabout
|spin the roundabout
|get on the roundabout
|get off the roundabout
|the park roundabout
|a playground roundabout
|a metal roundabout
|a small roundabout
|a fast-spinning roundabout
Themes
children
|play
|daily_life
Examples
- The children ran to the roundabout and started pushing it faster.
- He fell off the roundabout when it spun too quickly.
- There’s a roundabout next to the swings in the park.
Learner examples
- The kids are on the roundabout.
Grammar
Dictionary form
roundabout
IPA
GB/ɹˈaʊndəbˌaʊt/
US/ɹˈaʊndəbˌaʊt/
Syllables & stress
round - about (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (round)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: roundabout
Noun
- Base: roundabout
- Plural: roundabouts
Expressions
in a roundabout way
1/ˈɪn ə ɹˈaʊndəbˌaʊt wˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
indirectly; not clearly
not directly; in a way that is not clear
Examples
- She hinted in a roundabout way that she wanted a promotion.
- He explained the problem in a roundabout way, so we asked him to be clearer.
- I’ll say this in a roundabout way to avoid naming names.
swings and roundabouts
1/swˈɪŋz ˈænd ɹˈaʊndəbˌaʊts/
idiom
informal
trade-offs; pluses and minuses
there are good and bad points; it evens out
Examples
- The salary is lower, but the job is less stressful—swings and roundabouts.
- Living in the city is expensive, but you save time commuting; it’s swings and roundabouts.
- We didn’t get the exact dates we wanted, but we got a better price—swings and roundabouts.