surround

1 of 2

verb

sur·round sə-ˈrau̇nd

surrounded; surrounding; surrounds

transitive verb

a(1)

: to enclose on all sides : envelop

the crowd surrounded her

(2)

: to enclose so as to cut off communication or retreat : invest entry 2

: to form or be a member of the entourage of

flatterers who surround the king

: to constitute part of the environment of

surrounded by poverty

: to extend around the margin or edge of : encircle

a wall surrounds the old city

: to cause to be surrounded by something

surrounded himself with friends

surround

2 of 2

noun

: something (such as a border or ambient environment) that surrounds

from urban centre to rural surround

Emrys Jones

Example Sentences

Verb A wall surrounds the old city. They had the suspect surrounded. She was suddenly surrounded by a crowd of excited fans. There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the decision. His departure was surrounded by secrecy. Noun the vast, featureless surround of the desert was strangely appealing to him See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

And many of the fastest-growing counties in Ohio surround the urban centers in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, often due to regional moves.

Zachary Smith, cleveland, 13 Nov. 2022 Despite the adverse weather, battles raged as Ukraine sought to surround the important city of Kreminna, in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, which was captured by the Russians in April.

Marc Santora, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Oct. 2022 In nature, when one is sick or very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up and walk around until that penguin can walk on its own.

Amanda Taylor, Peoplemag, 27 Oct. 2022 After that, the blacks could surround and siege King’s Landing and force the greens’ surrender.

Erica Gonzales, ELLE, 23 Oct. 2022 In nature, when one is sick or very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up and walk around until that penguin can walk on its own.

Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Oct. 2022 Penguins, in nature, when one is sick, or when one is very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up.

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2022 Penguins, in nature, when one is sick, or when one is very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up.

Jessica Wang, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2022 Penguins, in nature, when one is sick, or when one is very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up.

Marianne Garvey, CNN, 19 Oct. 2022

Noun

Toyota fits the Prius Prime with several standard driver-assistance technologies; however, items such as a surround-view camera and front and rear parking assist systems are optional.

Greg Fink, Car and Driver, 17 Nov. 2022 This one has a porcelain pedestal sink, bead board wainscoting, a white tile surround in the shower/bath combination, and vinyl flooring.

John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Nov. 2022 Unlike typical whirlpool tubs, this one doesn’t have to be built into a surround.

Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2022 Here, designer Oliver Thornton took a nod from traditional museum displays, complementing an abstract sketch with a surround of refined detailing and a duo of sconces.

Alyssa Longobucco, House Beautiful, 28 Oct. 2022 At the other end of the living room is a large wood-burning fireplace with a ceramic surround and hearth.

James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Sep. 2022 The first floor features a large living room adorned by Roman shades and a natural gas fireplace decorated by a tile surround and a mantel.

Karen A. Avitabile, courant.com, 5 Apr. 2022 Plus, when paired with a PS5, the Pulse 3D leverages Tempest 3D audio, a kind of virtual spatial audio that creates immersive surround-sound on tons of great PS5 games.

Harry Rabinowitz, Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2022 Thirty-four leafless evergreens surround much of the tennis courts, although there is an ironwood that does have leave at one corner.

Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'surround.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to flood, inundate, from Anglo-French surunder, from Late Latin superundare, to overflow, from Latin super- + unda wave; influenced in meaning by round entry 5 — more at water

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of surround was circa 1616

See more words from the same year