all-around

adjective

ˌȯl-ə-ˈrau̇nd How to pronounce all-around (audio)
variants or less commonly all-round
ˈȯl-ˈrau̇nd How to pronounce all-around (audio)
Synonyms of all-aroundnext
1
: considered in or encompassing all aspects : comprehensive
the best all-around performance so far
2
: competent in many fields
an all-around performer
3
: having general utility or merit
an all-around tool
all around adverb

Synonyms of all-around

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Examples of all-around in a Sentence

an all-around garden rake that adjusts for any raking task, from raking lawns to delicate flower beds this saw has the top rating for all-around performance, but for small detail work it might not be your best choice an all-around player, as skilled on the pitcher's mound as he is at the batting plate
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Longer commutes, hills, uneven neighborhood streets, and weekend detours all make a stronger all-around bike easier to justify. — New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026 Daxon Rudolph tracks as an exceptionally intelligent top-four defenseman, while Noah Östlund and Jiří Kulich are excellent all-around forwards. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Controversy follows after it was discovered a scoring error that may have cost Yang Tae-young of South Korea the men’s all-around title. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 While SoFi is a solid all-around lender, other competitors are stronger in certain categories. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for all-around

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of all-around was in 1866

Rhymes for all-around

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Browse Nearby Words

allargando
all-around
all-arounder
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Cite this Entry

“All-around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-around. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

all-around

adjective
ˌȯ-lə-ˈrau̇nd
variants also all-round
1
: considered as a whole or including all parts
the best all-around performance so far
2
: good in many fields
an all-around athlete
3
: having general usefulness
all-around tools
all around adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on all-around

Nglish: Translation of all-around for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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