have been around

verb

To be experienced in worldly matters; to be seasoned, not naive.

Opposite
be born yesterdayfall off the turnip truck
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Meanings

verbhave been around (third-person singular simple present has been around, present participle having been around, simple past and past participle had been around)

present singular third person has been around · participle present having been around · participle past had been around · past had been around · alternative have been around the block

  1. idiomaticTo be experienced in worldly matters; to be seasoned, not naive.

    "Oh, I've been around a little before," said Tom coolly. "Yes, you look like a lad who has seen something of the world."

    1900, Edward Stratemeyer, chapter 17, in The Rover Boys Out West
    1 more example

    Barnes: John McCain has been tested. He has been tested in war, and he passed that test. When has Hillary been tested? She has been tested in her marriage. That's about it. Williams: You're being very mean. Barnes: No I'm not. I'm being honest. Williams: She has been around. She has met world leaders.

    2008 March 3, “'Special Report' Panel on Hillary Clinton's New Campaign Advertisement”, in foxnews.com, US, retrieved 01 Jan 2009

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
be born yesterdayfall off the turnip truck

Translations

Finnish olla kiertänyt muutakin kuin tahkoa
  • olla kiertänyt muutakin kuin tahkoaTranslations
French ne pas être né de la dernière pluie
  • ne pas être né de la dernière pluieTranslations
Polish znać się
  • znać sięTranslations
Spanish estar de vuelta de todo, cuando tú vas yo vengo de regreso
  • estar de vuelta de todoTranslations
  • cuando tú vas yo vengo de regresoTranslations
  • estar curado de espantoTranslations
  • saber mucha gramática pardaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

have been around. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20been%20around

MLA

“have been around.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20been%20around. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have been around,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20been%20around.

Source: have been around on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.