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

Six months after the hurricane, Williams is rebuilding The Last Bar Before the Jungle piece by piece, searing spiny lobsters on a stovetop surrounded by power tools. —Joe Sills, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025

Catamaran cruises are the most popular way to explore the islands and allow visitors to hike to scenic viewpoints or explore surrounding dive sites. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025

Noun

Not to mention that several reported on-road issues, as well as faced uncertainty surround regulations and liabilities. —Michael Wayland, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2025

But hiking in this gem of Appalachia and surround wilderness areas are back in full swing. —Erica Zazo, Outside Online, 9 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