English Meaning & Definitions
A road junction at which traffic moves in one direction around a central island.
- “Take the second exit at the roundabout to reach the highway.”
- “Traffic was backed up all the way to the main roundabout.”
Indirect; not following a short or direct path or method.
- “She took a roundabout route to avoid the heavy downtown traffic.”
- “He gave a roundabout explanation instead of answering directly.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “roundabout”.
Derived from Middle English, combining 'round' (circular) and 'about' (in all directions). Originally used in the 15th century to describe a detour or circuitous path, it later came to refer to a rotating fairground ride (merry-go-round) and, by the 20th century, a road junction where traffic moves in a circle around a central island.
Picture driving 'around' in a 'circle' (bout) to avoid a direct route, taking the long way around.
Frequently Asked Questions About “roundabout”
1. What is the meaning of “roundabout” in English?
In English, roundabout (noun) is defined as: “A road junction at which traffic moves in one direction around a central island.”.
2. How do you use “roundabout” in a sentence?
“Take the second exit at the roundabout to reach the highway.”
3. What are English synonyms of “roundabout”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “roundabout”?
Derived from Middle English, combining 'round' (circular) and 'about' (in all directions). Originally used in the 15th century to describe a detour or circuitous path, it later came to refer to a rotating fairground ride (merry-go-round) and, by the 20th century, a road junction where traffic moves in a circle around a central island.
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.