encompasses

verb

present tense third-person singular of encompass
1
as in surrounds
to form a circle around a necklace of sapphire-blue lakes encompasses the town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in includes
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wraps
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encompasses Instead, Hugo says the case encompasses a much broader body of work stemming from compositions the two created during nearly 50 studio sessions between 2019 and 2021. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2026 Los Angeles–area cultural institution the Huntington, which encompasses an art museum, library, and botanical garden, has announced this year’s gifts to its art collection from the Huntington’s Art Collectors’ Council. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Her remit encompasses media relations, influence and reputation strategy, crisis communications, engagement with institutions and industry bodies, and the development and rollout of the group’s corporate narrative, according to Kering. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 The district largely encompasses Somerset ISD boundaries north of Loop 1604. — Sophia Veneziano, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026 The district, which encompasses downtown Sacramento and Elk Grove, stretches from Placerville to the north and to Lodi in the south. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The Wondaween name comes from Monáe’s creative collective, the Wondaland Arts Society, which encompasses Wondaland Pictures, Records, Games and more. — Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 The experience extends before and after the film and encompasses everything from the approach to the venue, to the food and drinks served, to music and dancing, and, most fundamentally, the exchange between artists and audience. — Sam Fleischner, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026 LePage and Democratic state auditor Matt Dunlap are vying for the sprawling district that encompasses much of the rural northern part of the state. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encompasses
  1. surrounds
  2. includes
  3. wraps
  4. encircles
  5. involves
  6. encloses
  7. contains
  8. envelops
Verb
  • Visceral fat — which lies deep within the abdomen and surrounds internal organs — has also been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, Cleveland Clinic states.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Their most vulnerable conversation surrounds his recent MS diagnosis.
    — Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of surrounds
Verb
  • The arthropod group includes animals that are without a backbone or any bones at all, strictly speaking, their bodies being encased in a ringed, exterior tegument and having legs and, sometimes, wings.
    — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Matsui, 82, faces progressive challenger and Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang for the 7th Congressional District, which includes Sacramento’s downtown core, Elk Grove, Placerville and El Dorado Hills.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of includes
Verb
  • Once the panel wraps, Kramer will receive TIFF’s Global Cinema Leadership Special Award.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Inside, the line wraps around the room, and cups everywhere are filled with fluffy mounds of Greek yogurt crowned with fresh fruit, nuts, dark chocolate cacao nibs and other ingredients.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of wraps
Verb
  • In May, the Georgia Department of Transportation closed a major section of the road, which encircles the city of Atlanta and connects much of the greater metro area, sending both intra- and interstate traffic through the city.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The paint color that encircles the wallpaper is important, but Chloe Redmond Warner says the bread should be the least exciting part of this sandwich.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of encircles
Verb
  • According to Maxx Leekley, Production Lead & Inventory Manager at Chocolate Fish, the application process involves more than just roasting up a good bean.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The battery manufacturing process involves many steps that could be made more energy-efficient.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of involves
Verb
  • The larger ring also improves sensitivity because optical gyroscopes can detect smaller rotations when the light encloses a greater area.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The building encloses an acre of private landscaped courtyard, which the apartment’s airy living area overlooks.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of encloses
Verb
  • If the brain’s primary goal is to reduce prediction error, this way of being contains a trap.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The origin story of Silicon Valley contains two contradictions.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of contains
Verb
  • The hotel’s unprecedented vantage point envelops guests in panoramic views of Melbourne and the ocean lapping at Port Phillip Bay.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • His talent has nothing to do with his genes, and yet his reverence for his parents, Philip and Mimi, envelops him in soulful humility.
    — Olivia Wilde, Time, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of envelops

Browse Nearby Words

encompassed
encompasses
encompassing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Encompasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encompasses. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All