roundabout

1 of 2

adjective

round·​about ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t How to pronounce roundabout (audio)
Synonyms of roundaboutnext
: circuitous, indirect
had to take a roundabout route
roundaboutness noun

roundabout

2 of 2

noun

1
: a circuitous route : detour
2
British : merry-go-round
3
: a short close-fitting jacket worn by men and boys especially in the 19th century
4
: rotary sense 2

Synonyms of roundabout

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Adjective

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Examples of roundabout in a Sentence

Adjective He took a roundabout route to town. In a roundabout way, he told me that my help was not wanted.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Styles has essentially bought his freedom and is bragging about it, in a roundabout way. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026 In an 2008 interview with The Times, Mitte and his family detailed how his acting career developed in a roundabout way. — Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
First phase work requires engineers to evaluate the intersection’s current setup and and plan for how a roundabout will improve traffic flow and reduce delays, city officials said. — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 To increase safety, roundabouts are also planned for Pitkin Street and Burnside Avenue, according to the Department of Transportation. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for roundabout

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1608, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1734, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roundabout was in 1608

Rhymes for roundabout

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Browse Nearby Words

round
roundabout
roundabout chair
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Cite this Entry

“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundabout. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

roundabout

adjective
round·​about
ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t
: not direct
went a roundabout way
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