sur·round
sə-ˈrau̇nd 
surrounded; surrounding; surrounds
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
: something (such as a border or ambient environment) that surrounds
… from urban centre to rural surround.—
Emrys Jones
Emrys JonesExamples 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
Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Detectives at the scene learned Hussein had been approached and surrounded by a group of four people, Maggi said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest, 29 Mar. 2026
This segued to San Diego Comic-Con last July where the Drew Goddard adapted title took over Hall H’s surround screens at the city’s conference center.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surround
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Verb
While students are surrounded by technology, teachers say that exposure alone is not building the kind of skills needed for academic or professional environments.
—Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Detectives at the scene learned Hussein had been approached and surrounded by a group of four people, Maggi said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
Riachi created the custom travertine fireplace with a walnut surround, puncturing it with vertical openings and linear alabaster wall sconces to echo the screens in the entrance hall.
—Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest, 29 Mar. 2026
This segued to San Diego Comic-Con last July where the Drew Goddard adapted title took over Hall H’s surround screens at the city’s conference center.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surround
Cite this Entry
“Surround.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surround. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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