- 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.
A bill relaxing the country's strict rules surrounding states of emergency passed the lower chamber following 15 hours of overnight debate, the body's president, Roberto Castro, announced.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
In addition, the WGA won changes to the rules surrounding the use of writers’ work in artificial intelligence and in the minimum payments, residuals and rules for script-writing, the union said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Judge Garnett also asked prosecutors to remind Bondi and government officials of rules surrounding public statements and their impact on a fair trial and jury selection.
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2025
Still, there are various finicky rules surrounding discharge petitions that don’t make them the most time-sensitive option.
From Slate • Feb. 21, 2024
Although the state is still revising its rules surrounding beaver relocation, landowners can take steps to minimize the critters’ damage on their property and learn how to coexist with nature.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 24, 2023
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.
