Basic Details
Word: Circumvent
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To find a way around a rule, problem or obstacle, often cleverly and sometimes unfairly.
Synonyms: bypass, evade, sidestep, get round
Antonyms: obey, follow, confront
Word origin: From Latin circumvenire, 'to come around', from circum (around) and venire (to come).
How to Spell Circumvent
Syllables: cir - cum - vent
Tricky part: It begins with circ, not serc or surc, and the middle is cum with a u. The last part, vent, has e.
Watch out for: circumvant, sircumvent, circomvent
Memory tip: Circum means around, as in circle and circus, and the vent is the same as in prevent: to circumvent is to come around a block instead of going through it.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The smugglers tried to circumvent the checkpoint by using a forest track.
Example 2: Some apps let users circumvent the screen-time limits set by parents.
Example 3: The engineers built a short bypass to circumvent the landslide.
Fun Fact
The Latin venire, to come, which gives the vent of circumvent, also appears in convention, intervene and adventure.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. circumvent 2. circulasion 3. circumferance 4. circumstanse
a) the movement of blood around the body
b) a fact or condition connected with an event
c) to find a way around a rule or obstacle
d) the distance around the edge of a circle
Show answer
c) to find a way around a rule or obstacle. All four start with circ-, but only circumvent is complete; the others should end in -ence, -ance and -tion.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to circumvent as used in the sentence:
The clever lawyer found a way to circumvent the strict new rule without breaking the law.
a) obey
b) bypass
c) enforce
d) announce
Show answer
b) bypass. To circumvent a rule is to bypass it; obeying or enforcing it means going straight through it.
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix circum- to form a real word. Choose it.
a) walk
b) strong
c) vent
d) clean
Show answer
c) vent. Circum + vent gives circumvent; there is no such word as circumclean, circumwalk or circumstrong.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters:
c_rc_mv_nt
a) i, u, a
b) i, u, e
c) e, u, e
d) i, o, e
Show answer
b) i, u, e. Circ- as in circle, -cum with u, and -vent with e.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Circumventing a rule would look like ____.
a) queuing patiently at the ticket counter
b) asking the guard for permission first
c) reading the rules aloud to everyone
d) using a side gate to avoid the ticket check
Show answer
d) using a side gate to avoid the ticket check
2. What does the prefix circum- mean?
a) under
b) against
c) before
d) around
Show answer
d) around
