surroundings

British  

/ səˈraʊndɪŋz /

plural noun

1. the conditions, scenery, etc, around a person, place, or thing; environment

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Explanation

Your surroundings are the things all around you. When you park your car in a huge lot, paying attention to your surroundings can help you find the car again later. You can use the noun surroundings to mean the nearby environment — all of the objects close by, as well as the location itself — and also the circumstances or conditions where you are. When someone builds a house, the surroundings will help determine which direction it will face and how many windows it will have. Surroundings stems from surround, "be all around," but originally "flood or overflow."

Example Sentences

Planters started anew in central Florida, in Polk County and its surroundings, what’s known as the Ridge, the highest part of Florida, and the only part that was never below sea level, historically.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

History shows that when people cooperate, they can solve complex problems and reshape their surroundings in positive ways.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

And another thing was the museum had to be open to its surroundings.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Jalal Haidar, a Lebanese-American who took over as the airport's chief operating officer two months ago, also expressed full confidence in the airport, its surroundings and the airspace.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Jack quickly glanced around, taking in his surroundings, then swallowed hard as he suddenly realized how close he’d been standing to the edge of the giant’s tongue.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Related Words

• ambience
• atmosphere
• background
• climate
• environment
• environs
• location
• milieu
• mise en scène
• neighborhood
• setting