survey

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

Synonyms of survey

• interview

Examples of survey in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Another showed the roof destroyed, with rubble scattered on the ground as emergency responders surveyed the aftermath. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 4 June 2026

Most travelers surveyed said their biggest regrets occurred as young adults. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 June 2026

Couples surveyed have been together for at least three years. —Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 3 June 2026

In these pictures, emergency crews search through rubble, firefighters tackle blazes and residents survey the destruction in neighborhoods hit by the strikes. —Polina Lytvynova, NPR, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

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