encircled

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "encircled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe an object that is surrounded or enclosed by something, often by a line or ring. For example, "The fort was encircled by a tall wall of stone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The desert that always encircled their world has finally consumed their dreams and their bodies.

The Guardian - Opinion

An estimated 5,000 encircled the building and urged the mayor to tackle the burgeoning housing crisis by building more council homes, control private rents and called off the proposed demolition of properties on up to 70 London estates.

The Guardian

The whole peninsula rests Encircled by a craving necklace Of the drowned.

The Guardian

Encircled by a looming ring of hotels and topped by Big Ben's big brother clock-tower of the Abraj al-Bait complex, the Grand Mosque has been transformed beyond all recognition over the last decade.

The Guardian - Arts

Compounded by Iran's already close ties with Iraq and Oman, Saudi Arabia is being diplomatically out maneuvered and encircled by the Islamic republic.

The Guardian

GDP growth:1.6% GDP per head: $47,350 (PPP: $47,290) Inflation:1.5% Budget balance (% GDP):0.8 Population:81.3mForever encircled, Germany is confronting ill winds from a revanchist Russia and an economically enfeebled Europe.

The Economist

AS ISRAEL'S tanks encircled Bethlehem at mid-week, suspicions were reawakened that its army could be laying out a contingency plan for an all-out assault on the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The Economist

Peace talks appeared to bear fruit, but fell apart quickly.Now the army has encircled the site and the talk is of war, not peace.

The Economist

Construction costs swelled from $1.8 billion to $2.4 billion—more, the South China Morning Post pointed out, than Macau's entire public-works budget for the past five years.The Venetian has 870 tables and 3,400 slot machines in the world's largest gambling hall, which is encircled by 350 shops, more retail space than any Hong Kong mall.

The Economist

The French had fortified the valley, in north-west Tonkin on the border with Laos, so he had taken his troops into the mountains that encircled it.

The Economist

"Russia is encircled by American military bases, airports and naval units," cried Vyacheslav Nikonov, a hawkish commentator.Yet the fact is that, in many ways, Russia needs a new treaty more than America.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "encircled" to vividly describe situations where something is completely surrounded, whether physically or metaphorically. This word adds a sense of completeness and enclosure to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "encircled" when a simpler word like "surrounded" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "encircled" is as a past participle or past tense verb, typically used to describe something that has been completely surrounded or enclosed. Ludwig demonstrates this usage through various examples, showing it modifies nouns or completes verb phrases.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "encircled" functions primarily as a verb and describes the state of being completely surrounded. Its usage spans across various contexts, notably in news, business, and scientific writing, indicating its versatility and broad applicability. According to Ludwig, the word is grammatically correct and effectively conveys the sense of being enclosed. To improve your writing, use "encircled" when you want to emphasize completeness of the action; however, avoid overusing it in simpler descriptions. Considering alternatives like "surrounded" or "ringed" can provide subtle differences in meaning and enhance the precision of your writing. "Encircled" maintains a neutral register, fitting well within professional and authoritative contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surrounded

Focuses on being enclosed on all sides.

enclosed

Highlights the act of being completely surrounded and contained.

circled

A simpler and more general way to indicate something is surrounded.

hemmed in

Implies a sense of restriction and confinement.

ringed

Emphasizes the circular shape of the surrounding element.

walled in

Emphasizes the presence of walls as a means of encirclement.

confined

Stresses limitation of movement within a defined space.

besieged

Implies being surrounded by hostile forces.

girdled

Suggests a tight, encircling embrace.

bordered

Focuses on the boundary or edge that surrounds something.

FAQs

How can I use "encircled" in a sentence?

You can use "encircled" to describe something that is completely surrounded. For example, "The city was "surrounded" by mountains" or "The troops "encircled" the enemy base".

What's the difference between "encircled" and "surrounded"?

"Encircled" implies a more complete and often deliberate act of surrounding something, while "surrounded" is a more general term for being on all sides of something.

Which is correct, "encircled by" or "encircled with"?

"Encircled by" is the more common and grammatically preferred usage. "Encircled with" can be used, but it's less frequent and may sound awkward in some contexts.

What can I say instead of "encircled"?

You can use alternatives like ""surrounded"", "ringed", or "enclosed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.