To turn or rotate something around an axis; to twist or spin.
時計の針を指で回して時間を合わせた。
I turned the clock hand with my finger to set the time.
ドアノブを左に回すと開きます。
Turn the doorknob to the left to open it.
ハンドルを強く回して車の向きを変えた。
He turned the steering wheel sharply to change the car's direction.
To pass something around among people; to circulate or hand out.
会議の資料を全員に回しておいてください。
Please pass the meeting materials around to everyone.
ケーキをお皿に切って順に回した。
I cut the cake onto plates and handed them around in order.
そのメールは既にチーム内で回っている。
That email is already circulating within the team.
To send, forward, or move someone or something to where it's needed; to transfer or direct.
その書類は経理部に回しておきます。
I'll forward that document to the accounting department.
この客はサービス担当に回してください。
Please send this customer to the service representative.
社長が問題を私に回してきた。
The president passed the issue on to me.
To turn something to a new use; to repurpose or reallocate for a different purpose.
予算を研究開発からマーケティングに回すことにした。
We decided to reallocate the budget from R&D to marketing.
空き部屋を倉庫として回す予定だ。
I plan to repurpose the spare room as a storage room.
To start up or operate a machine or device (often by turning a switch or dial); to run (e.g., a washing machine).
洗濯機を回してから買い物に行った。
I started the washing machine before going shopping.
古いバイクはキーを回してエンジンをかけるタイプだ。
The old motorcycle is the kind you start by turning the key.
To place someone in a particular position or situation (e.g., assign a role); also used in phrases like 'make someone an enemy' (敵に回す).
次のプロジェクトで佐藤さんを責任者に回す予定だ。
We plan to assign Sato as the person in charge for the next project.
あの人を敵に回すと面倒だよ。
It'll be troublesome if you make that person an enemy.
Auxiliary use attached to a verb stem (-masu stem) meaning to do something all around, repeatedly, thoroughly, or everywhere (e.g., 探し回す, 走り回す).
鍵をなくして町中を探し回ったが見つからなかった。
I searched all over town for my keys but couldn't find them.
子どもたちは庭を走り回って遊んでいる。
The children are running around the yard playing.
彼は情報をネットで調べ回して証拠を集めた。
He searched around the internet for information and gathered evidence.
To surround or enclose something with something else; to encompass by placing around it.
庭を白い柵でぐるっと回した。
I surrounded the garden with a white fence all the way around.
行列は警備員に回されてステージを取り囲んだ。
The procession was steered by security and surrounded the stage.
To put an arm around someone (e.g., around the waist); to reach around with an arm.
彼は彼女の腰に腕を回して歩いた。
He put his arm around her waist and walked.
コートの上から友達の肩に腕を回した。
I put my arm around my friend's shoulder over my coat.
To invest or lend money; to allocate funds to an investment or lend them (often used for redirecting capital).
彼は余剰資金を株式に回した。
He invested his surplus funds in stocks.
会社は新規事業に多くの資金を回している。
The company is allocating a lot of funds to the new business.
To dial (by turning the dial on a rotary telephone); to use the dial to call a number (used for old-style phones).
祖父は黒電話のダイヤルを回して番号を合わせた。
My grandfather turned the rotary dial on the old phone to dial the number.
To gang-rape (to sexually assault someone by multiple perpetrators); equivalent to '輪姦する'.
その事件では複数の容疑者が被害者を輪姦したと報じられた。
Reports said that in that case multiple suspects gang-raped the victim.
To operate or run a business, shop, or organization; to manage resources and people to keep operations going.
一人でこの小さな店を回すのは大変だ。
It's tough to run this small shop by yourself.
彼女は上手にチームを回してプロジェクトを成功させた。
She managed the team well and brought the project to success.
このホテルは24時間体制でフロアを回している。
This hotel runs its floors on a 24-hour system.