survey

1 of 2

verb

sur·​vey sər-ˈvā  ˈsər-ˌvā 

surveyed; surveying

transitive verb

1

a

: to examine as to condition, situation, or value : appraise

b

: to query (someone) in order to collect data for the analysis of some aspect of a group or area

2

: to determine and delineate the form, extent, and position of (such as a tract of land) by taking linear and angular measurements and by applying the principles of geometry and trigonometry

3

: to view or consider comprehensively

4

: inspect, scrutinize

… he surveyed us in a lordly way …

—Alan Harrington

intransitive verb

: to make a survey

survey

2 of 2

noun

sur·​vey ˈsər-ˌvā  sər-ˈvā 

plural surveys

1

: the act or an instance of surveying: such as

a

: a broad treatment of a subject

b

: poll sense 2a

2

: something that is surveyed

Synonyms of survey

Verb

• interview

Noun

• inspection
• examination
• audit
• scrutiny
• scan

Examples of survey in a Sentence

Verb

A total of 250 city residents were surveyed about the project.

64 percent of the people surveyed said that the economy was doing well.

The teacher surveyed the room.

People were surveying the damage after the storm.

Engineers surveyed the property to see what could be built on it.

Noun

The survey found some surprising tendencies among the population.

We conducted an opinion survey on the issue and found that most people agree.

a survey on American drinking habits

Surveys of each department were conducted earlier this year.

A survey of recent corporate layoffs reveals a new trend in business management.

A new land survey changed the borders of their property.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg this month raised their forecasts for China’s trade growth for the year, now expecting exports to grow 17 percent and imports to rise 22 percent. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

The nominees represent a range of exhibitions, artists, and curatorial approaches, surveying the best in the art world during the eligibility cycle of August 1, 2025–July 31, 2026. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Noun

That’s down 22% from the previous survey held in June 2024 and about 30% below the 2012 peak, and the lowest since Teikoku began tracking the data in 2010. — Anniek Bao,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026

South Africa’s 2022 census missed nearly a third of the population, according to the statistics department’s own follow-up survey. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French surveer, to look over, from sur- + veer to see — more at view

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing survey

• geodetic survey
• survey course

Rhymes for survey

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway

Kids Definition

survey

1 of 2 verb

sur·​vey sər-ˈvā 

ˈsər-ˌvā

surveyed; surveying

1

: to look over and examine closely

2

: to find out the size, shape, and position of (as an area of land)

3

: to gather information from or about

4

: to make a survey

survey

2 of 2 noun

sur·​vey ˈsər-ˌvā 

sər-ˈvā

plural surveys

: the act or an instance of surveying or of applying the principles and methods of surveying

also : something that is surveyed