Encompass
/ɪnˈkʌmpəs/
verbB2
Definition
Encompass means to hold or include everything inside a certain area or group. It can mean to surround something physically or to include many ideas, people, or things as part of a whole. It shows that something contains or covers many parts together.
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See It in Action
To surround or circle something physically
- •The castle walls encompass the entire village.
- •The forest encompasses the small lake in its center.
- •The fence encompasses the playground area.
To include or contain many parts or ideas
- •The book encompasses topics from history, science, and art.
- •Her responsibilities encompass managing the team and planning events.
- •The project encompasses several different departments.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "encompass" like "include," but bigger—like a big circle that holds many things inside it
- ✓Picture a big fence around a garden that surrounds all the plants inside it
- ✓It feels like when you invite all your friends to a party, including everyone in one place
- ✓Sounds like "in-COMP-us" → imagine a company that COMPletes or holds everything inside its walls
- ✓Think of a map that encompasses a whole country, showing all its cities and rivers inside
- ✓NOT like "touch" (just one point); encompass means to cover or hold all parts around or inside
- ✓NOT like "exclude" (to leave out); encompass means to bring together or include everything
- ✓NOT like "surround" only physically; encompass can also mean including ideas, topics, or groups
Try Other Words
- •Contain: to hold something inside (Use when focusing on physical or clear limits)
- •Surround: to be all around something (Use when physical space or area is important)
- •Cover: to spread over or protect something (Use when meaning to protect or hide)
- •Include: to have something as part of a group (Use when talking about parts of a whole)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "en-" (meaning "to cause to be" or "to put into") + root "compass" (from Latin "compassare," meaning to measure out or go around)
- •Etymology: From Latin "compassare," meaning to go around or surround; entered English in the 15th century
- •Historical development: Originally meant to go around something physically; now also means to include or cover ideas or things
- •Modern usage: Used both for physical surrounding and for including many parts in ideas, groups, or topics
Reflect & Connect
•How can the word "encompass" help you describe a place or a big idea better?
•Can you think of a time when you had to encompass many different tasks or responsibilities? How did you manage them?
Fill in the blanks
1.The new park will encompass ___ playgrounds, gardens, and walking paths.
2.When you say a circle encompasses an area, it means it ___ the space completely.
3.Her job responsibilities encompass ___ the sales team and customer service.
4.Unlike "include," encompass often implies something is ___ or covers all parts.
5.The old city walls encompass the historic center, meaning they ___ it on all sides.
6.To encompass many ideas in one speech, a speaker must ___ different topics clearly.
7.The map encompasses ___ the whole country, not just a small part.