idiom (phrasal) · formal

come full circle

/kʌm fʊl ˈsɜːrkəl/come FULL·CIR·cle

speakingtask2

to return to an earlier state or position after a series of changes

Examples

After years of trying new methods, the debate has come full circle and traditional approaches are being reconsidered.

His career came full circle when he ended up managing the same company where he started.

Policies often come full circle as public opinion changes.

Band 8 sentence

Public attitudes towards urban living have come full circle, with many people now valuing the community ties they once took for granted.

Collocations

  • come full circle (after/when)
  • have/has come full circle

Word family

come full circle verb phrasecame full circle verb (past)coming full circle verb (gerund)

Common mistakes

come full of circlecome full circle

come full roundcome full circle

Say it for a higher band

5return6revert7+come full circle

Synonyms

return to its origins

revert

Easily confused

return to

After decades of reform, the policy has returned to a position similar to its original form.

Related words

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In come …

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