surveyed; surveying
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
Alan Harrington
: to make a survey
plural surveys
1
2
: something that is surveyed
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
Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
The superintendent and principal also meet monthly with a student advisory committee, and the student body at each school is routinely surveyed for feedback and input, according to the district.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2025
Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Once the field survey and design are completed, the information is then sent to the alderperson’s office, said Rutenbeck.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for survey
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The rooms come with binoculars to encourage you to cozy up and survey the Pacific for whales, dolphins, songbirds and more.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
The superintendent and principal also meet monthly with a student advisory committee, and the student body at each school is routinely surveyed for feedback and input, according to the district.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2025
Noun
Instead, the district staff want to review feedback collected from the survey.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Once the field survey and design are completed, the information is then sent to the alderperson’s office, said Rutenbeck.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for survey
Cite this Entry
“Survey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survey. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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