surround

1 of 2

verb

sur·​round sə-ˈrau̇nd 

surrounded; surrounding; surrounds

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to enclose on all sides : envelop

the crowd surrounded her

(2)

: to enclose so as to cut off communication or retreat : invest entry 2

b

: to form or be a member of the entourage of

flatterers who surround the king

c

: to constitute part of the environment of

surrounded by poverty

d

: to extend around the margin or edge of : encircle

a wall surrounds the old city

2

: to cause to be surrounded by something

surrounded himself with friends

surround

2 of 2

noun

: something (such as a border or ambient environment) that surrounds

from urban centre to rural surround

—Emrys Jones

Synonyms

Verb

• circle
• compass
• embrace
• encircle
• enclose
• inclose
• encompass
• environ
• gird
• girdle
• ring
• wreathe

Noun

• ambient
• atmosphere
• climate
• clime
• context
• contexture
• environment
• environs
• medium
• milieu
• mise-en-scène
• setting
• surroundings
• terrain

Examples of surround in a Sentence

Verb

A wall surrounds the old city.

They had the suspect surrounded.

She was suddenly surrounded by a crowd of excited fans.

There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the decision.

His departure was surrounded by secrecy.

Noun

the vast, featureless surround of the desert was strangely appealing to him

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Alejandro is captured playing a vinyl record in a Seventies scene before a dream sequence of the singer surrounded by women behind a red curtain, seemingly seducing him and his thoughts. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025

Besides, from the youngest to oldest family members, there are plenty of benefits of being surrounded by pristine natural environments and breathing fresh air. —Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025

Noun

The secondary bathroom is accented by a rich brown Emperador marble on the trim, tub surround, and floor tile. —Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 29 Jan. 2025

To the right is the sunken living room, which has a row of clerestory windows and a fireplace with a ceiling-height brick surround. —Angela Serratore, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to flood, inundate, from Anglo-French surunder, from Late Latin superundare, to overflow, from Latin super- + unda wave; influenced in meaning by round entry 5 — more at water

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing surround

• surround oneself with (someone or something)
• surround sound

Kids Definition

surround

1 of 2 verb

sur·​round sə-ˈrau̇nd 

: to enclose on all sides : encircle

surround

2 of 2 noun

: something (as a border) that surrounds