Circumnavigate Meaning
/ˌsə.kəmˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo travel completely around somewhere or something, especially by sail.
verbTo circumvent or bypass.
Sentence Examples
The sailor planned to circumnavigate the globe.
She wanted to circumnavigate the island.
They plan to circumnavigate the globe in a small sailing boat.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Magellan's crew was the first to ____ the entire planet Earth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Magellan's crew was the first to ____ the whole world in past city.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin circumnāvigātus, perfect passive participle of circumnāvigō (“sail round something, circumnavigate”), from circum (“about, around”) + nāvigō (“sail, navigate”), from nāvis (“ship”) + agō (“do”). By surface analysis, circum- + navigate.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"On horses they circumnavigated the fields, comparing the progress of the harvest on the two halves."
— 2016, Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad, Fleet, published 2017, page 50:
"One of the things making the trip possible is Rutherford’s microlight aircraft. Microlights are small one or two-seat planes used for leisure or personal transport. If she completes her trip, Rutherford will also claim the record for the youngest person to circumnavigate the world solo in a microlight aircraft."
— 2021 August 18, Rebecca Cairns, “This teenage aviator hopes to be the youngest woman to fly solo around the world”, in CNN, archived from the original on 13 Feb 2022:
"Rebel of the tournament: Saudi Arabia’s Malek Al Hawsawi, who circumnavigated Fifa’s ban on jewellery by keeping his ring in his mouth."
— 2006 July 9, “Magic month of memories”, in Times of London:
"Patrick Childress, who solo circumnavigated on a Catalina 27 in 1982, stresses the value of eggs, which will keep at least six weeks if previously unrefrigerated and oiled with vegetable shortening."
— 1992, Richard Henderson, Singlehanded Sailing, →ISBN, page 225:
"Jack and Lura Francis, both fairly tall, circumnavigated on a Westsail 32."
— 1997, Diana Jessie, The Cruising Woman's Advisor, →ISBN, page 30:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Magellan's crew was the first to ____ the entire planet Earth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Magellan's crew was the first to ____ the whole world in past city.