circumnavigate

verb

cir·​cum·​nav·​i·​gate ˌsər-kəm-ˈna-və-ˌgāt 

circumnavigated; circumnavigating; circumnavigates

transitive verb

: to go completely around especially by water

circumnavigate the earth

also : to go around instead of through : bypass

circumnavigate a congested area

circumnavigation

ˌsər-kəm-ˌna-və-ˈgā-shən 

noun

circumnavigator

ˌsər-kəm-ˈna-və-ˌgā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• circle
• circuit
• circumvent
• compass
• encircle
• girdle
• orbit
• ring
• round

Examples of circumnavigate in a Sentence

The ship circumnavigated the world.

the first ship to circumnavigate the globe

Recent Examples on the Web

The narrow route, first opened by the U.S. in 1914, allows cargo vessels to travel between the American continents rather than having to circumnavigate them, hugely reducing transit times and costs. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025

Collectively, the Riders have pedaled enough miles to circumnavigate the globe three times over. —Outside Online, 11 Mar. 2025

Brisbane, Australia/Hong Kong CNN — Chinese warships have been circumnavigating Australia’s coastline for more than three weeks, passing within 200 miles of Sydney, and staging unprecedented live-fire drills on its doorstep with New Zealand. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025

Mirzakhani became obsessed with these circumnavigating curves. —Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin circumnavigatus, past participle of circumnavigare to sail around, from circum- + navigare to navigate

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for circumnavigate

• borosilicate
• decontaminate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• incapacitate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate

Kids Definition

circumnavigate

verb

cir·​cum·​nav·​i·​gate ˌsər-kəm-ˈnav-ə-ˌgāt 

: to go completely around especially by water

circumnavigate the earth

also : to go around instead of through : bypass

circumnavigation

-ˌnav-ə-ˈgā-shən 

noun