- 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.
"We have captured for the first time how electronic changes associated with proton transfer are coupled to reorganization of the surrounding solvent," said Biasin.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
Closures were put in place in Upper Parliament Street, Goldsmith Street, Market Street and the surrounding area, with a joint police and fire investigation under way.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez said in a statement Sunday that his department is “conducting a thorough review of the incident, including body worn camera footage, reports, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
This is particularly significant given the pressure surrounding Lisa Cook and Jerome Powell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
I told her about the pretty lady and her superstitious beliefs surrounding her brother’s opal ring.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
