To circumnavigate means to travel all the way around something, especially the entire Earth or a large landmass. The word combines “circum,” meaning around, with “navigate,” meaning to find your way. When Ferdinand Magellan's expedition completed the first circumnavigation of the globe in 1522, it showed that people could sail west from Spain and eventually arrive back from the east.

You can circumnavigate an island by sailing around its entire coastline, or circumnavigate a lake by hiking the trail that circles it. Pilots circumnavigate the world by flying around it. The key idea is completing a full circle, ending up back where you started.

The word often suggests an impressive feat requiring skill, planning, and determination. Circumnavigating Antarctica means braving some of the most dangerous waters on Earth. Circumnavigating the globe by sailboat might take months or even years. Even circumnavigating a large island in a kayak demands preparation and endurance.

You might hear someone joke about circumnavigating a puddle on the sidewalk by walking around it instead of through it. This playful use works because the word can technically apply to going around anything, though it usually describes longer, more challenging trips.