circling
Moving in loops
Circling is moving in a circle or arc around something.
A hawk circles overhead, scanning for prey.
Cars circle the block looking for parking.
The word often implies repetition without progress: We've been circling this issue for an hour.
In aviation, circling means flying in a holding pattern while awaiting clearance to land.
Turning on an axis
- spinningRevolving around an axis
- revolvingTurning around a center
- orbitingTraveling around another body
- wheelingMoving things on rollers
gyrating · twirling · whirling · swiveling · pivoting · spiraling · looping · swirling
Sensation of spinning
- vertigoSensation of spinning
- lightheadedFaint and unsteady feeling
- spinningRevolving around an axis
- whirlingRotating swiftly in place
giddiness · unsteady · woozy · reeling · disoriented · confused · nausea · faint
Orbiting celestial body
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- ellipticalOval-shaped or indirect
gravity · spacecraft · geostationary · celestial · lunar · solar · astronomical · rotation
Rising effortlessly upward
- glidingEngineless aerial movement
- hoveringSuspended without support
- swoopingDescending in curves
- bankingFinancial institution transactions
drifting · floating · vultures · hawks · eagles · raptors · surveillance · patrol
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- prowlingMoving stealthily while hunting
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- closing inSteadily approaching something
- zeroingCalibrating to baseline
targeting · tracking · pursuing · cornering · sharks · wolves · lions · prey
Moving in circles
- recurringHappening repeatedly over time
- returningGoing back to origin
- revisitingGoing back again
- reiteratingStating something anew
cycling · repeating · continuous · endless · perpetual · redundant · monotonous · persistent
Enclosing on all sides
- ringingSustained resonant sound
- encompassingIncluding all within bounds
- envelopingSurrounding on all sides
- corrallingRounding up animals
cordoning · hemming · bounding · skirting · girding · wrapping · bordering · framing
rotating
Turning on an axis
- spinningRevolving around an axis
- revolvingTurning around a center
- orbitingTraveling around another body
wheeling · gyrating · twirling · whirling · swiveling · pivoting · spiraling · looping · swirling · turning
dizzy
Sensation of spinning
- vertigoSensation of spinning
- lightheadedFaint and unsteady feeling
- spinningRevolving around an axis
whirling · giddiness · unsteady · woozy · reeling · disoriented · confused · nausea · faint · staggering
satellite
Orbiting celestial body
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- trajectoryPath of moving object
elliptical · gravity · spacecraft · geostationary · celestial · lunar · solar · astronomical · rotation · period
soaring
Rising effortlessly upward
banking · drifting · floating · vultures · hawks · eagles · raptors · surveillance · patrol · reconnaissance
stalking
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- prowlingMoving stealthily while hunting
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- closing inSteadily approaching something
zeroing · targeting · tracking · pursuing · cornering · sharks · wolves · lions · prey · patient
looping
Moving in circles
- recurringHappening repeatedly over time
- returningGoing back to origin
- revisitingGoing back again
reiterating · cycling · repeating · continuous · endless · perpetual · redundant · monotonous · persistent · habitual
surrounding
Enclosing on all sides
- ringingSustained resonant sound
- encompassingIncluding all within bounds
- envelopingSurrounding on all sides
corralling · cordoning · hemming · bounding · skirting · girding · wrapping · bordering · framing · outlining
- maneuveringmaneuvering, positioning, steering, repositioning, pivoting
- flight patternsflight path, holding pattern, traffic pattern, landing pattern, V formation
- Horse Problemscribbing, weaving, bucking, rearing, biting
- movementwalk, move, go, run, jump
- word searchhorizontal, vertical, diagonal, highlight, highlighting
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
circlingbeelining
Going directly toward
linear · direct · rectilinear · unbending · straight-line
circlingadvancing
Moving in forward direction
proceeding · converging · zeroing in · departing · arriving
- circling backReturning to a topic
- circling the drainApproaching inevitable end
- circling the wagonsUnifying against outside attack