Meanings
adjectiveroundabout (comparative more roundabout, superlative most roundabout)
comparative more roundabout · superlative most roundabout
- Indirect, circuitous, or circumlocutionary.
[S]he fled, running like a deer, doubling and turning through alleys and back streets until by a very roundabout road she reached her own room.
1896, Robert Barr, “chapter9”, in From Whose Bourne3 more examples
"Really, Bill, I think your best plan would be to go straight to father and tell him the whole thing.—You don't want him to hear about it in a roundabout way."
1920 March – 1921 February, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter 17, in Indiscretions of Archie, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published 1921, →OCLCMr. Rather flew to the area in a roundabout fashion, first landing in Bahrain, from there flying to Islamabad and then heading to Kabul by land.
2001 December 3, Jim Rutenberg, “Rather Reports Another War”, in New York Times, retrieved 03 Apr 2014Descartes is compelled to fall back upon a curious roundabout argument to prove that there is a world. He must first prove that God exists, and then argue that God would not deceive us into thinking that it exists when it does not.
2011, 50 Classic Philosophy Books, Golgotha Press, →ISBN - Encircling; enveloping; comprehensive.
The third sort is of those who readily and sincerely follow reason, but for want of having that which one may call a large, sound, roundabout sense, have not a full view of all that relates to the question.
1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC
nounroundabout (plural roundabouts)
plural roundabouts
- A fairground carousel.
Synonyms: merry-go-round
- A detour.
- A short, close-fitting coat or jacket worn by men or boys, especially in the 19th century.
- archaicA round dance.
verbroundabout (third-person singular simple present roundabouts, present participle roundabouting, simple past and past participle roundabouted)
present singular third person roundabouts · participle present roundabouting · participle past roundabouted · past roundabouted
- To play on a roundabout (carousel)
- To travel round roundabouts
- To talk in a roundabout, indirect manner
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island.
nounA fairground carousel.
Similar
More synonyms by meaning
adjectivemarked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct
Similar
adjectivedeviating from a straight course
Similar
nouna road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Similar
Broader
nouna large, rotating machine with seats for children to ride on for amusement
Broader
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From round + about [from early 20th c.].
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic دَوَّار
- دَوَّار (dawwār)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Bulgarian обиколен, непряк
- обиколен (obikolen)circuitous
- непряк (neprjak)circuitous
- обширен (obširen)comprehensive
- обстоен (obstoen)comprehensive
- обхватен (obhvaten)comprehensive
- кръ̀гово движе́ние (krằgovo dvižénie)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- кръ̀гово (krằgovo)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- въртелѐжка (vărtelèžka)children’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- обико̀лка (obikòlka)detour
- завъртулка (zavărtulka)detour
Catalan rotonda, giratori
- rotondaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- giratoriroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- carrusselchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- cavalletschildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
Chinese Cantonese 迴旋處 /回旋处, 環島 /环岛
- 迴旋處 /回旋处 (wui⁴ syun⁴ cyu⁵)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- 環島 /环岛 (waan4 dou2)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Chinese Mandarin 環形交叉 /环形交叉, 環島 /环岛
- 環形交叉 /环形交叉 (huánxíng jiāochā)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- 環島 /环岛 (huándǎo)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- 圓環 /圆环 (yuánhuán)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- 迴旋處 /回旋处 (huíxuánchù)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Czech nepřímý, kruhový objezd
- nepřímýcircuitous
- kruhový objezdroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- okružní křižovatkaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- kolotočchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- objížďkadetour
Danish rundkørsel, karrusel
- rundkørselroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- karruselchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- omkørseldetour
Dutch rotonde, rondpunt
- rotonderoad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- rondpuntroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- verkeerspleinroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- draaimolenchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- carrouselchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- omwegdetour
- omleidingdetour
Esperanto rondoplaco, trafikcirklo
- rondoplacoroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- trafikcirkloroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Estonian ringristmik
- ringristmikroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Finnish kiertelevä, epäsuora
- kierteleväcircuitous
- epäsuoracircuitous
- kierto-circuitous
- kattavacomprehensive
- liikenneympyräroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- kiertoliittymäroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- karusellichildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- kiertotiedetour
French rond-point, giratoire
- rond-pointroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- giratoireroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- tourniquetchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
German umständlich, verschleiert
- umständlichcircuitous
- verschleiertcircuitous
- allumfassendcomprehensive
- übergreifendcomprehensive
- universalcomprehensive
- allseitigcomprehensive
- weitgespanntcomprehensive
- Kreisverkehrroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- Kreiselroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- Verteilerkreisroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- Karussellchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- Reitschulechildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- Ringelspielchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- Rösslispielchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- Umleitungdetour
- Umgehungdetour
- Umgehungsstraßedetour
Greek κόμβος
- κόμβος (kómvos)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Hebrew כִּכָּר
- כִּכָּר (kikar)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Hungarian kerülő, körülíró
- kerülőcircuitous
- körülírócircuitous
- indirektcircuitous
- terjengőscircuitous
- hosszadalmascircuitous
- körülményescircuitous
- köntörfalazócircuitous
- átfogócomprehensive
- körforgalomroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- körforgóchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- kerülődetour
- kerülőútdetour
- vargabetűdetour
- kitérésdetour
- kitérődetour
Icelandic óbeinn, með vífilengjur
- óbeinncircuitous
- með vífilengjurcircuitous
- krókótturcircuitous
- króka-circuitous
- ekki beinncircuitous
- hringtorgroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- umferðarhringurroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- hringekjachildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- krókaleiðdetour
- krókvegurdetour
Indonesian bundaran
- bundaranroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Irish compal, timpeallán
- compalroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- timpeallánroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- timpeallán spraoichildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
Italian rotatoria, rotonda
- rotatoriaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- rotondaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Japanese ラウンドアバウト, 環状交差点
- ラウンドアバウト (raundoabauto)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- 環状交差点 (kanjō kōsaten)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Korean 회전교차로, 회전무대
- 회전교차로 (hoejeon'gyocharo)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- 회전무대 (hoejeonmudae)children’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- 회전놀이기구 (hoejeonnorigigu)children’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
Latvian apļveida krustojums
- apļveida krustojumsroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Lithuanian žiedas, žiedinė sankryža
- žiedasroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- žiedinė sankryžaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Malay bulatan, bundaran
- bulatanroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- bundaranroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Māori takawhawhe, pūtahi porotaka
- takawhawhecircuitous
- pūtahi porotakaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- takawhawhechildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
Norwegian Bokmål rundkjøring
- rundkjøringroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Persian فلکه
- فلکه (falake)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Polish okrężny, okólny
- okrężnycircuitous
- okólnycircuitous
- pośrednicircuitous
- wyczerpującycomprehensive
- obszernycomprehensive
- wszechstronnycomprehensive
- kompleksowycomprehensive
- pełnycomprehensive
- rondoroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- karuzelachildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- objazddetour
Portuguese perifrástico, circunloquial
- perifrásticocircuitous
- circunloquialcircuitous
- rotatóriaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- rotundaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- gira-girachildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- desviodetour
Romanian sens giratoriu, carusel
- sens giratoriuroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- caruselchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- călușeichildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- ocoldetour
Russian непрямо́й, око́льный
- непрямо́й (neprjamój)circuitous
- око́льный (okólʹnyj)circuitous
- окружно́й (okružnój)circuitous
- кру́жный (krúžnyj)circuitous
- обходно́й (obxodnój)circuitous
- кругово́й перекрёсток (krugovój perekrjóstok)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- кольцо́ (kolʹcó)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- кольцевое пересечение (kolʹcevoje peresečenije)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- кругова́я развя́зка (krugovája razvjázka)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- карусе́ль (karusélʹ)children’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- объе́зд (obʺjézd)detour
Slovak kruhový objazd
- kruhový objazdroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Spanish rotonda, glorieta
- rotondaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- glorietaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- rondpointroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- óvaloroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- redomaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- tiovivochildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- desvíodetour
Swahili kipilefti, mzunguko
- kipileftiroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- mzungukoroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Swedish omständlig, tillkrånglad
- omständligcircuitous
- tillkrångladcircuitous
- indirektcircuitous
- rondellroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- karusellchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- omvägdetour
Tagalog rotonda
- rotondaroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Turkish dönel kavşak
- dönel kavşakroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Ukrainian кругове́ перехре́стя
- кругове́ перехре́стя (kruhové perexréstja)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Urdu چَورَن٘گی, چوک
- چَورَن٘گی (cauraṅgī)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- چوک (ćok)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- چوراہا (ćorāhā)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- دوراہا (dorāhā)road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Vietnamese vòng xuyến, bùng binh
- vòng xuyếnroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- bùng binhchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
- vòng xuyếnchildren’s play apparatus which rotates around a central axis when pushed
Welsh cylchfan, cylchdro
- cylchfanroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- cylchdroroad junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
Cite this entry
APA
roundabout. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/roundabout
MLA
“roundabout.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/roundabout. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “roundabout,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/roundabout.
Source: roundabout on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.