- present participle of surround.
surrounding
Americannoun
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something that surrounds.
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surroundings, environing things, circumstances, conditions, etc.; environment.
He was too sick to be aware of his surroundings.
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the act of encircling or enclosing.
adjective
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enclosing or encircling.
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being the environment or adjacent area.
Synonym Usage
See environment.
Etymology
Origin of surrounding
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: literally “inundation”; see origin at surround, -ing 1, -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some whose homes and businesses survived are increasingly concerned about the risks posed by surrounding lots consumed by unchecked vegetation.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
Turk said the lack of transparency and clarity surrounding the circumstances of the deaths undermines accountability.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
But Nanos has been embattled throughout the investigation, not just by criticism surrounding the Guthrie case.
From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026
At the time, however, the court didn’t explain its reasoning or resolve the broader legal issues surrounding the policy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026
The subject has the ability to completely take on a surrounding environment, becoming practically invisible.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
