What Does “Circle Back” Mean?

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A guide to this common workplace phrase for English learners and other professionals
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“Circle back” is a super common term in the business world, so chances are you’ve heard it before at work. But what exactly does “circle back” mean, and what’s the right way to use it? If you’re looking for the answers to these questions, you’re in the right place! We’ll go over the definition of “circle back” and give you some examples of how it’s used in conversations. We’ll also provide some alternatives to “circle back” you can use instead. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Circle Back Meaning

“Circle back” means to come back to a conversation at a later time. For example, if someone brings up a topic at the end of a meeting, you could say, “I think we’re out of time, but we can circle back to this topic next week.” It’s most common in business settings, and some people consider it to be “corporate jargon.”

Section 1 of 4:

“Circle Back” Definition & Examples

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  1. When someone says they’ll “circle back” about something, they’re saying they’ll revisit the topic with you another time. [1] The phrase is usually used in business or work settings. For example, “We’re running out of time, so we’ll have to circle back to this at our next meeting.” Here are some more examples:
    • “I wanted to go over the most recent sales report with you, but it’s not ready yet. We’ll have to circle back next week.”
    • “I’m going out on PTO tomorrow for the holiday, but I’ll circle back with you on this topic when I get back.”
    • “I don’t know the answer to that question, so I’ll have to ask my manager. I’ll circle back with you when I have more info.”
    • “That’s a super interesting point. We’re out of time for our meeting today, but let’s circle back to that topic next time.”
    • “I’m on my way out, but I do want to discuss this with you. Can we circle back to this tomorrow?”
    • “Would you mind doing some research on that topic and circling back with me about what you find?”
  2. This usage of the phrase can occur in all kinds of situations, not just office or business settings. For instance, you could say, “I forgot my jacket at home this morning, so I had to circle back to my house to grab it.” [2] Other examples include:
    • “They didn’t have the book I wanted at the store, so I had to circle back a few days later to see if it came in.”
    • “The line at the buffet is way too long right now. I’m gonna circle back in a few minutes when it’s less busy.”
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  3. Some people use the term “circle back” to mean reaching out to an ex or trying to rekindle an old romance. For example, “We broke up two years ago, but now that he’s matured a little bit he’s trying to circle back.” Here are some other examples:
    • “We went on a few dates then she ghosted me, but now she’s circling back for some reason. Maybe I’ll give her another chance.”
    • “He has commitment issues, but I always knew he’d circle back. He just reached out to me last night after months of not talking.”
    • “My ex always circles back. No matter how many years go by, he always reaches out and tries to start something up again as soon as he hears I’m single.”
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Section 2 of 4:

Why do some people dislike the phrase “circle back”?

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  1. Corporate jargon is basically stereotypical workplace language, and it includes phrases like “ping me,” “let’s take this offline,” and of course, “let’s circle back.” Some people don’t like corporate jargon because they think it’s clichéd, vague, or even annoying. [3]
  2. Because “let’s circle back” basically means “let’s talk about this later,” some people feel like they’re being shut down or ignored when they hear it. [4] They may also feel like the other person is just trying to buy themselves time, or get out of having a conversation they don’t want to have.
    • For example, if you tried to share an exciting idea at a meeting but your boss said the team would “circle back” to it later, you might feel like your creativity was being shut down.
    • Or, if you asked for a raise and your supervisor said, “Let’s circle back about that another time,” you might worry that they’re blowing you off or avoiding the topic.
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Section 3 of 4:

When to Avoid Using “Circle Back”

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  1. Since “let’s circle back” can come across as a bit dismissive at times, it’s best to avoid saying it right after someone shares an idea that seems important to them. It takes a lot of courage to speak up and share your thoughts in the workplace , so it’s important to be supportive and empathetic when someone does this.
    • For example, instead of saying, “We’re out of time, but let’s circle back to that later,” try saying something like:
      • “That’s a great idea, and I definitely want to revisit it next time. I’m making a note so I remember to bring it up at the start of our next meeting.”
  2. “Let’s circle back” can be a little vague, so it can cause some anxiety if the other person needs an answer by a certain date. They may also worry that you’ll forget to bring the topic again with them. Because of this, it’s better to use more concrete language when you're talking about something time sensitive.
    • For example, instead of saying, “I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll circle back with you,” try staying something like:
      • “I’ll need to ask my manager about that, but I know you need an answer soon. I’ll email you with with an update later today.”
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Section 4 of 4:

Alternatives to “Circle Back”

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  1. In fact, many people don’t mind it at all. However, if you’re worried about accidentally offending someone with the phrase, here are a few alternatives you can use instead:
    • Let’s revisit this: “I’m super interested in your input, but I have to hop on another call. Let’s revisit this topic at our meeting tomorrow morning.”
    • Let’s touch base: “I’ll be out on PTO the rest of the week, but let’s touch base on this topic on Monday.”
    • Let’s continue this conversation: “I love this idea, but unfortunately we’re out of time for today. Let’s continue this conversation at our meeting tomorrow.”
    • Let’s schedule a meeting: “I want to hear more, but I’m running late for my next call. Let’s schedule a meeting to talk about this later this week.”
    • Let’s reconnect about this: “You’ve shared some really interesting insights, and I'd love to talk about them more. Let’s reconnect about this tomorrow.”
    • I’ll follow up with you: “I’m not sure of the answer to that question, but I’ll ask my supervisor and follow up with you ASAP.”
    • I’ll get back to you: “These are some great questions. I’ll bring them up to my manager and get back to you with any updates.”

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2023/09/05/1197583526/workplace-jargon-survey-advice
      2. ↑ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/circle-back
      3. ↑ https://www.icls.edu/blog/decoding-business-english-vocabulary-what-circling-back-really-means
      4. ↑ https://lamag.com/business/corporate-jargon-interpreted

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