as in encircled
to form a circle around
she was surrounded by cheering fans within moments of scoring the winning goal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 surrounded
Within two hours, she was found dead, her body surrounded by dingoes, wild Australian native dogs that roam freely on K’gari, a national park famous for its natural beauty off the country’s eastern coast.
—
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
The artists José Parlá and Claudia Hilda, his wife, live in a former fire station in Fort Greene surrounded by memories of Cuba, which Parlá’s family fled in 1970 and where Hilda lived until recently.
—Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 24 Jan. 2026
The island's Curtain Bluff is an elegant all-inclusive resort on the south coast, surrounded by two beaches.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
The Tree Haus is a standout, boasting 2 floors resting 23 feet above the ground, surrounded by a canopy of towering pines.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
Gregory Bovino, a commander-at-large of the Border Patrol, has toured cities on foot, followed by cameras and surrounded by masked agents.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
This path leads into a grand meeting room for the video production team, an imposing space surrounded by life-size statues of Iron Man, Darth Vader, Yoda, and other legends from the Star Wars saga.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Because his subject was surrounded by colorful and often unpredictable characters—alcoholics, neurotics, and blowhards—Perkins’s self-effacing qualities make for a dramatic contrast and a wealth of wild stories.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
During the arrest of Tipan-Echeverria, approximately 120 individuals surrounded the agents, blocking them in and preventing them from exiting, the spokesperson added.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
The artists José Parlá and Claudia Hilda, his wife, live in a former fire station in Fort Greene surrounded by memories of Cuba, which Parlá’s family fled in 1970 and where Hilda lived until recently.
—Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 24 Jan. 2026
The island's Curtain Bluff is an elegant all-inclusive resort on the south coast, surrounded by two beaches.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
The Tree Haus is a standout, boasting 2 floors resting 23 feet above the ground, surrounded by a canopy of towering pines.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
Gregory Bovino, a commander-at-large of the Border Patrol, has toured cities on foot, followed by cameras and surrounded by masked agents.
—Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
This path leads into a grand meeting room for the video production team, an imposing space surrounded by life-size statues of Iron Man, Darth Vader, Yoda, and other legends from the Star Wars saga.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Because his subject was surrounded by colorful and often unpredictable characters—alcoholics, neurotics, and blowhards—Perkins’s self-effacing qualities make for a dramatic contrast and a wealth of wild stories.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
During the arrest of Tipan-Echeverria, approximately 120 individuals surrounded the agents, blocking them in and preventing them from exiting, the spokesperson added.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrounded
Verb
-
Some thought the mystery bore a direct relation to the green tangle that tightly encircled the two dozen shacks balanced precariously between the rain forest and the yellowish waters.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
While encircled outside his locker Saturday, disappointed in the result but proud of his team’s effort, Coker answered questions about his career game.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Which neighborhood is being circled by ICE, which neighbor is being yanked from their house and needs observers documenting ASAP!—
Angela Pelster,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Two helicopters circled overhead.—
Ronald J. Hansen,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Advertisement The next 16 years encompassed both triumph and disaster.—
Alexander Larman,
Time,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The original lease, which last year was extended to 2049, encompassed four acres of waterfront land and called for two restaurants to be built there by the end of 2008.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The heart of East Troy is Village Square Park, anchored by a brick WPA-era bandstand and ringed with mature trees, indie storefronts, classic diners, and appealing restaurants.—
Sarah Miller,
Midwest Living,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The cross, made of guayacán wood and ringed with precious metals, stands about eight feet tall and is believed to have been discovered, as if by a miracle, in a nearby cave in 1868.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Super Bowl ad is the latest move by a president and administration that have fully embraced professional sports as a prime venue to deliver their message.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Gonzalez also embraced the trend, wearing a sheer black corset top of her own.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surrounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrounded. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
