surround
verb (used with object)
to enclose on all sides; encompass.
had surrounded
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past perfectof surround.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
“You all lying!” a shop owner in Glenmora, population 1,000, recalls exclaiming when she heard agents had surrounded the former police chief’s house there.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
A certain level of secrecy and gatekeeping had surrounded these recipes over the centuries, which has led to the predicament the cuisine faces today.
From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2025
As he tries to rebuild after also losing his home and livestock, Kisha mourns the pine forest that had surrounded him since his childhood.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2025
Police said a group of citizens had surrounded the man at the pier plaza and responding officers were able to intervene.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2025
The “rubble” that rained down on the workers was probably pieces of the steel sheeting that had surrounded the reactor building.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
