verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ˌsə.kəmˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
US:/ˌsɝ.kəmˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S ER2 K AH0 M N AE1 V AH0 G EY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To travel completely around somewhere or something (especially the Globe), especially by sail.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
We circumnavigated the Mediterranean.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: compass, environ
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: encircle, go around
2
verb
Meaning 2
To circumvent or bypass.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: go around
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To sail around the world.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: nautical, sailing, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
travel around, either by plane or ship
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
We compassed the earth
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: compass
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: circle
History
Etymology
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.
Across languages
Translations
37 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
circumnavegar
— to sail completely around something
Czech:
obeplout
— to sail completely around something
Finnish:
purjehtia jonkin ympäri
— to sail completely around something
French:
circumnaviguer
— to sail completely around something
German:
umsegeln
— to sail completely around something
German:
umschiffen
— to sail completely around something
German:
umfahren
— to sail completely around something
Hungarian:
körbehajóz
— to sail completely around something
Hungarian:
hajóval megkerül
— to sail completely around something
Italian:
circumnavigare
— to sail completely around something
Latin:
circumnāvigō
— to sail completely around something
Māori:
taiāwhio
— to sail completely around something
Norwegian:
seile rundt
— to sail completely around something
Old English:
ymblīþan
— to sail completely around something
Polish:
opływać dookoła
— to sail completely around something
Polish:
opłynąć dookoła
— to sail completely around something
Portuguese:
circum-navegar
— to sail completely around something
Scottish Gaelic:
iom-sheòl
— to sail completely around something
Spanish:
circunnavegar
— to sail completely around something
Spanish:
bojar
— to sail completely around something
Spanish:
bojear
— to sail completely around something
Spanish:
circumnavegar
— to sail completely around something
Czech:
obejít
— to circumvent or bypass
Finnish:
kiertää
— to circumvent or bypass
Finnish:
ohittaa
— to circumvent or bypass
German:
umschiffen
— to circumvent or bypass
German:
umgehen
— to circumvent or bypass
Hungarian:
megkerül
— to circumvent or bypass
Polish:
omijać
— to circumvent or bypass
Polish:
ominąć
— to circumvent or bypass
Spanish:
circunvenir
— to circumvent or bypass
Spanish:
circunvalar
— to circumvent or bypass
Spanish:
circumnavegar
— to circumvent or bypass
Finnish:
purjehtia maailman ympäri
— to sail around the world
German:
die Welt umsegeln
— to sail around the world
