1
a(1)
: having every part of the surface or circumference equidistant from the center
(2)
: cylindrical
a round peg
b
: approximately round
a round face
3
4
: direct in utterance : outspoken
a round denunciation
5
: moving in or forming a circle
6
a
: brought to completion or perfection : finished
b
: presented with lifelike fullness or vividness
7
: delivered with a swing of the arm
a round blow
8
a
: having full or unimpeded resonance or tone : sonorous
b
: pronounced with rounded lips : labialized
9
: of or relating to handwriting predominantly curved rather than angular
1
a
: something (such as a circle, globe, or ring) that is round
b(1)
: a knot of people
(2)
: a circle of things
3
: a musical canon in which each part begins on the same note and is continuously repeated
4
a
: a rung of a ladder or a chair
b
: a rounded molding
5
a
: a circling or circuitous path or course
b
: motion in a circle or a curving path
6
a
: a route or circuit habitually covered (as by a security guard or police officer)
b
: a series of similar or customary calls or stops
They were always together, fighting to cure paralysis. An endless round of fundraisers, Congressional testimony.—
Diane Sawyer
—often used in pluralDiane SawyerYou see, in election time local politicians, aspirants for office, have a way of making the rounds of the saloons to get votes.—Jack London
Jack London… no one … was surprised to see him making the TV news rounds within hours of his announced termination …—Kristi Owram
Kristi Owram
especially
: a series of regularly scheduled professional calls on hospital patients made by a doctor or nurse
—usually used in plural
… if laboratory test results are not available to physicians when they make their routine morning rounds, they may have to delay patient management, repeat their rounds at a later time, and perhaps prolong their patients' hospital stays. —David A. Novis and Jane C. Dale
David A. Novis and Jane C. Dale 7
: a drink of liquor apiece served at one time to each person in a group
I'll buy the next round
8
: a sequence of recurring routine or repetitive actions or events
went about my round of chores
the newest round of talks
9
: a period of time that recurs in a fixed pattern
the daily round
10
a
: one shot fired by a weapon or by each man in a military unit
b
: a unit of ammunition consisting of the parts necessary to fire one shot
11
a
: a unit of action in a contest or game which comprises a stated period, covers a prescribed distance, includes a specified number of plays, or gives each player one turn
b
: a division of a tournament in which each contestant plays an opponent
12
: a prolonged burst (as of applause)
13
a
: a cut of meat (such as beef) especially between the rump and the lower leg see beef illustration
b
: a slice of food
a round of bread
14
: a rounded or curved part
rounded; rounding; rounds
1
2
a
b
: to pass part of the way around
4
: to bring to completion or perfection
—often used with off or out
5
: to express as a round number
—often used with off
11.3572 rounded off to two decimal places becomes 11.36
1
a
: to become round, plump, or shapely
b
: to reach fullness or completion
2
: to follow a winding course : bend
1
: around
2
: all during : throughout
round the year
rounded; rounding; rounds
Synonyms
Examples of round in a Sentence
Adjective
The baby has a round face.
the owl's big, round eyes
a shirt with a round collar
Adverb
people working there all year round
gather round and listen to my story
Noun
a round of steel to reinforce the wooden beam
a busy round of parties during the holiday season
Preposition
talked to voters round the city
Recent Examples on the WebMonica Bell, Peoplemag, 30 Apr. 2024
Best Choice Products 3-Piece Outdoor Acapulco All-Weather Patio Conversation Bistro Set
This patio set comes with two chairs and a round accent table.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for round 
Adjective
The rug is available in rectangle and round styles in seven sizes and five colors, including blue and gray with strip lights.
—Monica Bell, Peoplemag, 30 Apr. 2024
Best Choice Products 3-Piece Outdoor Acapulco All-Weather Patio Conversation Bistro Set
This patio set comes with two chairs and a round accent table.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for round
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'round.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to round
Dictionary Entries Near round
Cite this Entry
“Round.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/round. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
round
1 of 5 adjective1
a
: having every part of the surface or circumference the same distance from the center
b
: shaped like a cylinder
a round peg
c
: nearly round
a round face
2
3
a
: complete entry 1 sense 1
a round dozen
b
: nearly correct or exact to a certain decimal place
use the round number 1400 for the exact figure 1411
c
: large
a good round sum
4
: moving in or forming a circle
5
: having lifelike fullness
a round character in a story
6
: having fullness of tone
7
: having curves rather than angles
roundish
adjective
ˈrau̇n-dish
round
2 of 5 adverbround
3 of 5 noun1
: something (as a circle, globe, or ring) that is round
2
: a song in which three or four singers sing the same melody and words one after another at intervals
3
4
: an indirect or circling path
5
a
: a regularly covered route
a watchman's rounds
b
: a series of calls or stops regularly made
a doctor on her rounds in the hospital
6
: a drink apiece served at one time to each person in a group
7
: a series or cycle of repeated actions or events
opened a new round of disarmament talks
8
a
: one shot fired by a soldier or weapon
b
: ammunition for one shot
9
: a unit of play in a contest or game
a round of golf
10
: a cut of beef especially between the rump and the lower leg
round
4 of 5 verb1
a
: to make or become round
b
: to pronounce a sound with rounding of the lips
2
: to go or pass around
rounded the curve
3
: to bring to completion
—often used with off or out
4
: to express as a round number
especially
: to drop any digits to the right of a given decimal place and increase the last remaining digit by 1 if the first dropped digit is 5 or greater
4.57268 rounded off to three decimal places is 4.573
5
: to follow a winding course
round
5 of 5 preposition(ˈ)rau̇nd
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share