What does "circus" mean?
A traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts, that gives shows usually in a circular tent.
Circus
/ˈsɜːkəs/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts, that gives shows usually in a circular tent.
- Grammar: circus is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: agora, amphitheater, annular muscle, annulus.
- Useful contrasts: calm, order.
- Usage evidence: The circus entertained us very much.
How to use "circus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "circus" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "circus" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "circus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "circus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "circus" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "agora" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "circus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts, that gives shows usually in a circular tent.
"The circus will be in town next week."
- 2 a performance given by a traveling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals wordnet
- 3 A round open space in a town or city where multiple streets meet.
"Oxford Circus in London is at the north end of Regent Street."
- 4 a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment wordnet
- 5 A spectacle; a noisy fuss; a chaotic and/or crowded place. figuratively
"The village would be turned into a circus over this. He groaned, it was just the sort of case the media had a field day over. He had to get the whole thing sorted fast before anyone got wind of it."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 an arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent wordnet
- 7 In the ancient Roman Empire, a building for chariot racing. historical
- 8 (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games wordnet
- 9 A code name for bomber attacks with fighter escorts in the day time. The attacks were against short-range targets with the intention of occupying enemy fighters and keeping their fighter units in the area concerned.
- 10 a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals wordnet
- 11 Circuit; space; enclosure. obsolete
"The narrow circus of my dungeon wall."
Verb
- 1 To take part in a circus; or to be displayed as if in a circus
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The circus entertained us very much."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "circus"?
Common synonyms include: agora, amphitheater, annular muscle, annulus, arena, areola.
How do you use "circus" in a sentence?
The circus entertained us very much.
How do you pronounce "circus"?
Pronounced /ˈsɜːkəs/.
Etymology
From Middle English circus, circo, from Latin circus (“ring, circle”), from Ancient Greek κρίκος (kríkos), κίρκος (kírkos, “ring”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). Doublet of cirque. Cognate with Old English hring (whence English ring) and Old English hringsetl (“circus”, literally “ring-seat”).