round·about
ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t 
: circuitous, indirect
had to take a roundabout route
roundaboutness
noun
1
: a circuitous route : detour
2
British
: merry-go-round
3
: a short close-fitting jacket worn by men and boys especially in the 19th century
4
Synonyms
Examples of roundabout in a Sentence
Adjective
He took a roundabout route to town.
In a roundabout way, he told me that my help was not wanted.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chelsea Leu, The Atlantic, 7 Aug. 2024
McDowell Road This road led, in a roundabout way, to Fort McDowell, a cavalry outpost near the confluence of the Verde and Salt rivers.
—Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 25 July 2024
The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2024
Construction of a new roundabout and a few other roadway projects will slow traffic in Carmel this summer.
—Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for roundabout 
Adjective
Read: Why quitting is underrated Waiting for the Weekend, by Witold Rybczynski
This charming history of leisure time is also, in a roundabout way, a meditation on work and its purpose.
—Chelsea Leu, The Atlantic, 7 Aug. 2024
McDowell Road This road led, in a roundabout way, to Fort McDowell, a cavalry outpost near the confluence of the Verde and Salt rivers.
—Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 25 July 2024
Noun
The roundabout exit from KY 8 (from Covington) to KY 9 remains open; however, the lane inside the roundabout is blocked.
—The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2024
Construction of a new roundabout and a few other roadway projects will slow traffic in Carmel this summer.
—Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for roundabout
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'roundabout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near roundabout
Cite this Entry
“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundabout. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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