1 A2 neutral
To walk through or around an area, often to explore or look at things.
"We spent the afternoon walking around the old city, admiring the architecture."
inseparable
walk around
A2 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
To walk in an area or around a place; also, to avoid dealing with something directly.
In plain English
To walk through or around a place; or to avoid a problem instead of solving it.
What does "walk around" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To walk around a physical object or obstacle in order to avoid it.
"She walked around the puddle to keep her shoes dry."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To avoid confronting or addressing a difficult issue directly.
"Stop walking around the problem — just tell me what is actually wrong."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To walk in the area around something — largely transparent.
Actually means
To walk through or around a place; or to avoid a problem instead of solving it.
Usage tip
In the literal sense, used very commonly to describe movement around a place. The figurative sense ('walk around a problem') is less common and slightly more formal. Can also describe someone's manner of moving ('walking around in circles').
Words that pair with "walk around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
city park problem issue block obstacle
How to conjugate "walk around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
walk around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
walks around
he/she/it
Past simple
walked around
yesterday
Past participle
walked around
have + pp
-ing form
walking around
continuous
Hear "walk around" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "walk around" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "walk around"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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