to move from person to person or place to place, often spreading information, news, or an object.
There’s a rumor going around that our teacher is leaving.
A: Did you hear what’s going around about the new manager? B: Yeah, everyone’s talking about it.
In my school, important announcements usually go around quickly because students share them on social media.
Common mistake
✗A rumour went around to everyone.
✓A rumour went around.
'Go around' already implies it spread to people. Don't add 'to everyone'.
Tell it apart
There's a nasty cold going around.
spreading person to person
There isn't enough to go around.
enough for everyone
Use 'go around' when talking about something being shared, spread, or passed among people.Not the same as 'go around' meaning 'avoid by moving around something physically.'
to be enough of something for all the people in a group.
There wasn’t enough cake to go around, so some people didn’t get any.
A: Do we have enough chairs for everyone? B: I think so—there should be plenty to go around.
During the festival, the organizers made sure there was enough food to go around for all the guests.
Common mistake
✗There isn't enough food to go around for everyone.
✓There isn't enough food to go around.
'To go around' already means 'for everyone'. Don't add 'for everyone'.
Tell it apart
There aren't enough seats to go around.
enough for all
A rumour went around the office.
spread person to person
Use this sense when talking about food, money, or resources being enough for everyone.Not about moving or spreading, but about quantity being sufficient.
to repeatedly behave in a particular way, especially one that is annoying, inappropriate, or disapproved of.
He goes around telling everyone how busy he is, but he never seems to get anything done.
A: Why is everyone annoyed with Tom lately? B: He goes around acting like he knows everything. It's starting to get on people's nerves.
Some people go around criticising others without considering the impact of their words, which can damage workplace morale.
Common mistake
✗You can't go around to say things like that.
✓You can't go around saying things like that.
This sense takes '-ing', not 'to + verb', and it carries criticism.
Tell it apart
He goes around telling everyone he's the boss.
does it habitually — critical
News went around the office.
circulated
Use this sense to describe someone's typical or habitual actions, often with a negative or critical tone. It is common in both spoken and written English when commenting on behaviour.Unlike the B1 sense 'circulate', which refers to physically moving or spreading something, this sense is figurative and focuses on someone's repeated behaviour or actions.