encompass
verb
en·com·pass in-ˈkəm-pəs 
en-,
also -ˈkäm-
encompassed; encompassing; encompasses
transitive verb
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
encompassment
in-ˈkəm-pə-smənt
noun en-
also -ˈkäm-
Synonyms
- circle
- compass
- embrace
- encircle
- enclose
- inclose
- environ
- gird
- girdle
- ring
- surround
- wreathe
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The district encompasses most of the downtown area. a neighborhood encompassed by a highway
Recent Examples on the Web Great learning doesn’t just encompass skills that are directly relevant for career development but should also have a more holistic approach that can benefit an individual in both their professional and personal life. 
Tom Gibby, Forbes, 7 July 2022 It’s boundaries encompass Summit County, northwest Stark County and a sliver of Portage County. Sabrina Eaton, cleveland, 30 Apr. 2022 More people will be able to get this shot than previous boosters: eligibility will be wider, and will encompass more than only older and immunocompromised individuals. Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 28 Aug. 2022 It is not only limited to academic successes but may encompass any experience that has produced learning that can benefit the family. David Redding, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 In the revised ordinance, references to large-capacity magazines were removed since that regulation was intended for handguns and because the remaining prohibition on the sale of assault rifles will encompass rifles with large-capacity magazines. Suzanne Baker, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 Tinder fire starters are a bit different and encompass a wider variety of materials. Chris Meehan, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2022 What does the book encompass that doesn’t appear in this narrative? Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 In literature, song, and philosophy, its meaning expands to encompass love, kindness, and the easy happiness of good times. Country Living, 12 July 2022 See More
Tom Gibby, Forbes, 7 July 2022 It’s boundaries encompass Summit County, northwest Stark County and a sliver of Portage County. Sabrina Eaton, cleveland, 30 Apr. 2022 More people will be able to get this shot than previous boosters: eligibility will be wider, and will encompass more than only older and immunocompromised individuals. Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 28 Aug. 2022 It is not only limited to academic successes but may encompass any experience that has produced learning that can benefit the family. David Redding, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 In the revised ordinance, references to large-capacity magazines were removed since that regulation was intended for handguns and because the remaining prohibition on the sale of assault rifles will encompass rifles with large-capacity magazines. Suzanne Baker, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 Tinder fire starters are a bit different and encompass a wider variety of materials. Chris Meehan, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2022 What does the book encompass that doesn’t appear in this narrative? Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 In literature, song, and philosophy, its meaning expands to encompass love, kindness, and the easy happiness of good times. Country Living, 12 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Kids Definition
encompass
verb
en·com·pass in-ˈkəm-pəs
encompassed; encompassing
1
: to cover or surround : encircle
Mountains encompass the peaceful valley.
2
: include The subject of social studies encompasses history, civics, and geography.
encompassing 1 of 2
adjective
as in surrounding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- surrounding
- encircling
- embracing
- ambient
- peripheral
- enclosing
- tangential
- marginal
- connected
- interconnecting
- connecting
- united
- bounding
- attached
- linked
- tangent
- communicating
- fencing
- contiguous
- bordering
- circumjacent
- joined
- adjacent
- approximate
- abutting
- adjoining
- touching
- juxtaposed
- closest
- flanking
- rimming
- inclosing
- conterminous
- nearby
- verging
- skirting
- nearest
- joining
- immediate
- nigh
- near
- neighboring
- close
- fringing
- next-door
- flush
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- discrete
- separate
- noncontiguous
- single
- isolated
- unconnected
- detached
- isolate
- apart
- nonadjacent
- disconnected
- distant
- divided
- unattached
- removed
- unlinked
- remote
- discontinuous
- far
- farthest
- split
- free-standing
- noncontinuous
- away
- ramified
- faraway
- resolved
- broken up
- disjoined
- severed
- dissociated
- divorced
- disunited
- far-off
- sundered
- parted
- dissevered
- uncoupled
- unyoked
encompassing
2 of 2verb
1
as in encircling
to form a circle around a necklace of sapphire-blue lakes encompasses the town Synonyms & Similar Words
- surrounding
- encircling
- embracing
- circling
- enclosing
- ringing
- environing
- girding
- compassing
- girdling
- wreathing
- circumscribing
- inclosing
- walling
- besieging
- closing in
- entrenching
- swarming
- besetting
- cordoning (off)
- investing
- hemming (in)
- fencing (in)
- intrenching
2
as in including
to have as part of a whole textbooks on American history are now likely to encompass its social history as well as its political and military history Synonyms & Similar Words
- including
- involving
- containing
- entailing
- carrying
- embracing
- subsuming
- comprising
- comprehending
- numbering
- incorporating
- possessing
- taking in
- constituting
- receiving
- embodying
- integrating
- having
- owning
- bracketing
- forming
- composing
- holding
- assimilating
- admitting
- consisting (of)
- making
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- excluding
- preventing
- leaving (out)
- prohibiting
- omitting
- precluding
- denying
- rejecting
- banning
- eliminating
- barring
- excepting
- refusing
- missing out
- losing
- debarring
- ruling out
- mislaying
- misplacing
3
as in enveloping
to surround or cover closely a fog of mystery has long encompassed this fraternal organization, which is known for its secret rituals Synonyms & Similar Words
- enveloping
- wrapping
- shrouding
- enclosing
- involving
- encasing
- embracing
- encircling
- enfolding
- enwrapping
- bowering
- enshrouding
- embowering
- draping
- muffling
- embedding
- bosoming
- swathing
- embosoming
- cocooning
- veiling
- mantling
- lapping
- investing
- inclosing
- blanketing
- circling
- enswathing
- circumfusing
- overlaying
- curtaining
- cloaking
- disguising
- imbedding
- camouflaging
- masking
- overspreading
- swaddling
- enwinding
- enlacing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exposing
- stripping
- baring
- denuding
- the story goes
- the story of someone's life
- the straight and narrow
- the straight dope
- the straight skinny
- the stratosphere
- the straw that breaks the camel's back
- the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back
- the straw that broke the camel's back
- the stretch
- the strike zone
- the string section
- the strings
- the stuff of greatness
- the stuff of legend
- the stuff of legends
- the subjunctive
- the sublime
- the subtropics
- the suburbs
- the sulks
- the sum of
- the sum total
- the sun is in someone's eyes
- the Sunbelt