surround

1 of 2

verb

sur·​round sə-ˈrau̇nd How to pronounce surround (audio)
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 surroundEmrys Jones

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Its picture windows offer more views of the surrounding countryside while the room itself can be organized for a wide range of activities including children’s games, a home theater, table games, and seating for large or small gatherings. James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025 The inhabitants of the Buffalo River Valley and the surrounding area did surprisingly well during the Great Depression, relying on their gardens and cornfields. arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2025
Noun
Both add tone-on-tone details including wood panels on the doors and dash, narrow slashes of chrome and a rose gold surround on the floating center console which nicely sets it apart from the storage bin beneath. Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025 The sculpture is made of wood, which Hepworth had to obtain a special permit to carve, and colored string, which, stretched tautly within the gap of the white ovoid form, represents her experience of the tensions between herself and her natural surrounds at the time. News Desk, Artforum, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for surround

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of surround was circa 1616

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surround.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surround. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

surround

1 of 2 verb
sur·​round sə-ˈrau̇nd How to pronounce surround (audio)
: to enclose on all sides : encircle

surround

2 of 2 noun
: something (as a border) that surrounds

More from Merriam-Webster on surround

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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