- 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.
Surrounding it is a larger region of older, fading plasma left behind by earlier eruptions.
From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026
Surrounding areas of Bissau were more deserted, and there were few people in reopened markets, AFP journalists said.
From Barron's • Nov. 28, 2025
Surrounding hillsides, significantly denuded of plant life, are dotted with scores of freshly cut stumps.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025
Surrounding buildings were also damaged, including St Philip's Church.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2025
Surrounding them were dead plants and scorched rocks.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
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.
