Meaning & use
centre circle
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
the large circle marked on the middle of a football pitch, where play starts
Grammar: Countable and usually used with 'the': the referee stood in the centre circle.
Patterns
- in the centre circle
- the centre circle of the pitch
The kick-off is taken from the centre circle.
Only two players were left in the centre circle as the ball went wide.
The captain walked slowly back to the centre circle after the goal.
Word forms
| plural | centre circles |
|---|
Common combinations
- the centre circle
- The ball rolled back into the centre circle.
- from the centre circle
- He passed the ball from the centre circle to the winger.
- stand in the centre circle
- The players stood in the centre circle before the match.
- the centre circle of the pitch
- The centre circle of the pitch was muddy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- center circle
- The American spelling; use it in US English texts.
- midfield circle
- A less common alternative, but it can also mean the whole central area, not just the marked circle.
Word family
Commonly confused: centre circle or center? centre circle or circle?
centre circle vs center
'Center' is the American spelling of 'centre'; in British English, use 'centre'.
centre circle vs circle
'Circle' is the general shape; 'centre circle' is the specific marked area on a sports pitch.
Practice
Where does play start in a football match?
Choose one answer.
Play starts from the centre circle, the marked circle in the middle of the pitch. The penalty area and corner flag are used for other restarts, and the goal line is at the end of the field.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “centre circle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.