encompass
C1-C2 / High-frequency academic & formal vocabularyFormal, Academic, Business, Literary
Definition
Meaning
To include or contain a wide range of things, ideas, or people within its scope.
To completely surround or encircle something physically or metaphorically; to cover thoroughly; to bring about or achieve something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word typically implies a comprehensive or holistic inclusion rather than a simple listing. It carries a nuance of completeness and thoroughness. Often used with abstract nouns (scope, range, idea).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or primary usage. Slightly higher frequency in American legal and business contexts.
Connotations
Equally formal in both varieties. Connotes thoroughness, comprehensiveness, and sometimes a sense of encapsulation.
Frequency
Comparably common in formal registers in both BrE and AmE. Slightly more frequent in AmE corpora in business/management texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP encompasses NP (The report encompasses three main areas.)NP be encompassed by NP (The valley is encompassed by mountains.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be all-encompassing (adj.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe the scope of a project, strategy, or market. 'The new role will encompass both sales and customer relations.'
Academic
Frequent in defining terms, describing research scope, or theoretical models. 'The theory encompasses both biological and social factors.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used in detailed descriptions. 'The tour will encompass all the major historical sites.'
Technical
Used in fields like geography (encompass an area), law (rights encompass freedoms), and software (a function that encompasses multiple tasks).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The curriculum will encompass modules on ethics and sustainability.
- The estate's lands encompass several protected forests.
- Her duties encompassed far more than was in the job description.
American English
- The survey encompasses a diverse demographic range.
- Our services now encompass digital marketing and analytics.
- The amendment's protections encompass freedom of speech and assembly.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The plan was not all-encompassing, leaving several issues unaddressed.
- They sought an all-encompassing solution to the traffic problem.
American English
- We need a more encompassing definition for the policy.
- Her all-encompassing love for the arts was evident.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The park encompasses a large playground and a lake.
- His new job will encompass training new staff and managing the website.
- The forest encompasses many different types of trees.
- The report encompasses a detailed analysis of market trends over the past decade.
- The term 'culture' can encompass everything from language to food and traditions.
- The proposed legislation is designed to encompass a wide array of environmental protections, yet critics argue it fails to encompass emerging technologies.
- Her philosophical framework attempts to encompass both existentialist thought and modern ethical dilemmas.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COMPASS drawing a circle that goes all the way AROUND (en-) an area, INcluding everything inside it. EN + COMPASS = to circle and include.
Conceptual Metaphor
INCLUSION IS ENCIRCLING / CONTAINER (The scope of the plan *encompasses* our goals; the idea is *contained within* the theory.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'окружать' (to surround) when only the abstract sense of 'include' is meant.
- Do not confuse with 'включать в себя' which is more direct; 'encompass' is broader and more formal.
- The Russian 'охватывать' is a closer conceptual match for the abstract sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in informal contexts where 'include' is better. (e.g., 'My bag *encompasses* my keys' is wrong.)
- Confusing with 'encompass' meaning to physically surround only. It's primarily about inclusion.
- Using the wrong preposition: 'encompass of' is incorrect. Use direct object: 'encompasses something'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'encompass' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is primarily used in formal, academic, business, and literary contexts. In everyday speech, 'include', 'cover', or 'involve' are more common.
'Include' suggests being part of a whole or a list. 'Encompass' suggests a more comprehensive, all-around inclusion, often of everything relevant within a defined scope or boundary. It has a stronger sense of totality.
Yes, but this is less common in modern usage. The primary meaning is abstract inclusion. The physical sense ('The mountains encompass the valley') is still valid but often found in literary or descriptive writing.
It is almost exclusively a verb. The adjective form is 'encompassing' or the compound 'all-encompassing'. There is no standard noun form like 'encompassment' in common use.