Meaning & use
well-rounded person
Last updated
Meaning
phrasecountableapproving
someone with a good balance of skills, interests, and experience rather than just one strength
Grammar: It is countable: say 'a well-rounded person' or 'well-rounded people'.
Patterns
- a well-rounded person
- become a well-rounded person
- a well-rounded individual
Her teachers describe her as a well-rounded person who plays music and volunteers.
Travel and team sports helped him become a well-rounded person.
The school aims to produce well-rounded people, not just high test scores.
Word forms
| plural | well-rounded people |
|---|
Common combinations
- a truly well-rounded person
- He is a truly well-rounded person with interests in art, science, and sport.
- become a well-rounded person
- Studying abroad helped her become a well-rounded person.
- a well-rounded individual
- The company looks for well-rounded individuals, not specialists alone.
- develop into a well-rounded person
- The program helps teenagers develop into well-rounded people.
Synonyms and how they differ
- all-rounder
- An 'all-rounder' is someone good at many things, often in sport; 'well-rounded person' is broader and more approving.
- versatile
- 'Versatile' describes ability to do many tasks; 'well-rounded' also includes interests and character.
Opposites
Word family
- well-rounded adjective
- having a good balance of abilities or experience
Commonly confused: well-rounded person or well-off?
well-rounded person vs well-off
'Well-off' means rich; 'well-rounded' means balanced in abilities and interests.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'well-rounded person' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A singular countable phrase needs 'a': 'a well-rounded person'. Option B misses the article, option C wrongly uses 'the' for a general description, and option D mixes singular and plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “well-rounded person”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.