Here are a few ways to understand it:
* Think of a circle: Everything inside the circle is "encompassed" by the circle's boundary.
* Imagine a box: All the items within the box are "encompassed" by the box itself.
* Consider a topic: A comprehensive book "encompasses" all the key aspects of that topic.
Examples:
* "This course encompasses a wide range of subjects, from history to art." (The course covers many different subjects.)
* "The new law encompasses all aspects of environmental protection." (The law addresses everything related to the environment.)
* "Her research encompasses the history of the entire region." (Her research includes information about the whole region.)
Synonyms:
* Include
* Cover
* Embrace
* Contain
* Comprise
Antonyms:
* Exclude
* Omit
* Leave out