as in to encircle
to form a circle around
she was surrounded by cheering fans within moments of scoring the winning goal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in surroundings
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded
the vast, featureless surround of the desert was strangely appealing to him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of surround
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
The ongoing outcry surrounding Jeffrey Epstein is on some level a reckoning with the scourge of child abuse and the impunity of the elites.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
While the large spring-fed lake serves as the centerpiece of this area, there’s much more to Lake Geneva and its surrounds.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Midwest Living, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surround
Verb
Its Victorian Palm House is filled with exotic plants year-round, while the surrounding park is busy with locals on any afternoon with decent weather.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
The ongoing outcry surrounding Jeffrey Epstein is on some level a reckoning with the scourge of child abuse and the impunity of the elites.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
The hard drive also features surround cooling, letting the hard drives perform better in the long run.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
While the large spring-fed lake serves as the centerpiece of this area, there’s much more to Lake Geneva and its surrounds.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Midwest Living, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surround
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surround
Verb
-
Pink ribbons now encircle every post and sign as a gesture to our loss.—
Stephen Trimble,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Jack Grealish was prone on one of the tables, encircled not by medical staff but members of the club’s Down’s Syndrome team.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Southeast Alaska, largely encompassed by a temperate rainforest, is no stranger to landslides.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Wind Cave National Park is located roughly an hour south of Rapid City, and the park encompasses 44 square miles, with its biggest draw beneath the Earth’s surface.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Although the pollution that inspired the Apollo era to rally for the environment is largely under control, decades of politicization have left humanity struggling to respond to the newer and more existential threat of climate change, Woodhouse says.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Navy dive medical technicians are trained in both advanced diving operations and emergency medicine, with expertise in handling patients in extreme environments.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
News of his involvement comes following our story yesterday on McCarthy circling the project.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Onboard anti-collision alarms sounded in both cockpits and both planes circled the airport before making safe landings.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During its high-stakes re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere, the Orion capsule faced extreme temperatures nearing 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Orion entered the atmosphere on a steeper trajectory, shortening the heat shield’s exposure time to extreme heating.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While some defend their way of life, fighting against modernity, others embrace change, becoming a platform to disrupt the status quo.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Inspired by the luxury furniture of the 1970s, the Howell x Harrier collection embraces rich caramel shades, copper and silver accents, and luxe materials.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yet all such arguments ring hollow today.—
Sheldon H. Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Barely wide enough to handle a summer crowd of single-lane traffic, pedestrians, and bell-ringing cyclists (not to mention the percussion of Away and Rimowa wheels on the pavement), Commercial Street runs nearly three miles along Provincetown Harbor.—
Cameron Sperance,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Local water is also more reliable, even though predicting rain in the Mediterranean climate of Southern California is about as easy as choosing a winning Super Lotto number.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Those who live in climates with cold and rainy winters know that being stuck indoors can have a negative effect on moods.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surround.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surround. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
