all-round

/ˌɔːl ˈraʊnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɔːl ˈraʊnd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈȯl-ˈrau̇nd/ (ame, mw)

all-round — adjective

1. describes someone who is good at doing several different things rather than only

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes someone who is good at doing several different things rather than only one — for example, a sportsperson who can play many positions, or a student strong in both arts and science.

例句

Megan is an all-round athlete who excels at swimming, tennis, and long-distance running.

all-round + athlete: many sports skills

The school awarded Daniel a prize for being the most all-round student in his year.

superlative: most all-round + student

同義詞
  • versatile

    more formal; emphasises ability to switch between roles

  • well-rounded

    broader; covers character and education, not just skill range

  • multi-talented

    stresses high level of skill in each area, not just competence

反義詞

文法句型

all-round + noun (athlete, performer, student)

用法筆記

Used attributively (before a noun) and almost always describes a person or their role: athlete, player, performer, student, entertainer. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes things like courses, programmes, or improvements rather than people. Mainly British; American English often prefers 'all-around'.

常見錯誤

❌My sister is all-round.
✅My sister is an all-round athlete.
💡usually needs a noun after it; rarely stands alone as a predicate.
❌He is a all-round student.
✅He is an all-round student.
💡use 'an' because 'all' begins with a vowel sound.

2. describes a thing — such as a course, a product, or a result — that deals with o

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a thing — such as a course, a product, or a result — that deals with or is good in many areas at the same time, not just one.

例句

The new phone offers an all-round improvement in camera, battery life, and screen brightness.

all-round + improvement covering several features

Parents praised the school for its strong all-round education in maths, sport, and the arts.

all-round + education across subjects

同義詞
  • comprehensive

    more formal; stresses that nothing important is left out

  • wide-ranging

    emphasises breadth across many topics or areas

  • overall

    focuses on the total effect rather than each area separately

反義詞
  • narrow

    limited to one or two areas only

  • partial

    covering some areas but leaving others out

文法句型

all-round + abstract noun (improvement, performance, quality)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a thing or activity (course, performance, improvement, protection) rather than a person — that is sense 1. Often paired with positive abstract nouns ('improvement', 'success', 'performance') and rarely with negative ones. Mainly British; American English usually writes 'all-around'.

常見錯誤

❌The protection is all-round.
✅The jacket gives all-round protection.
💡works best directly before a noun, not after a linking verb.
❌an all-round of subjects
✅a wide range of subjects
💡'all-round' is an adjective, not a noun phrase.