surround

American  

[suh-round] / səˈraʊnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to enclose on all sides; encompass.

   She was surrounded by reporters.

2. to form an enclosure around; encircle.

   A stone wall surrounds the estate.

3. to enclose (a body of troops, a fort or town, etc.) so as to cut off communication or retreat.

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noun

1. something that surrounds, as the area, border, etc., around an object or central space.

   a tile surround for the shower stall.

2. environment or setting.

   The designer created a Persian surround for the new restaurant.

3. Hunting.

   1. a means of hunting in which wild animals are encircled and chased into a special spot that makes their escape impossible.

   2. the act of hunting by this means.

   3. the location encircled by hunters using this means.

surround British  

/ səˈraʊnd /

verb

1. to encircle or enclose or cause to be encircled or enclosed

2. to deploy forces on all sides of (a place or military formation), so preventing access or retreat

3. to exist around

   I dislike the people who surround her

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noun

1. a border, esp the area of uncovered floor between the walls of a room and the carpet or around an opening or panel

2. 1. a method of capturing wild beasts by encircling the area in which they are believed to be

   2. the area so encircled

Other Word Forms

• presurround
  verb (used with object)
• surrounding
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of surround

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English surounden “to inundate, submerge,” from Anglo-French surounder, Middle French s(o)ronder, from Late Latin superundāre “to overflow,” equivalent to Latin super- super- + undāre “to flood,” derivative of unda “wave” ( see undulate); current spelling by analysis as sur- ¹ + round ¹ (verb)

Explanation

When you think of the word surround, think of something that's around you on all sides, like the trees that surround you in a forest or the people who surround you on a city street at rush hour. Sometimes surround describes the position of troops that force the enemy to surrender. You can also surround your property with a fence, or surround yourself with positive people. Both of these offer a way to protect or strengthen the thing in the middle — your house or your well-being. In a movie theater that has "surround sound," the audience feels like it is in the middle of the action because of the speakers placed all around the space.

Example Sentences

A rash of glass and steel towers surround 19th Century sandstone buildings left from when a hospital occupied the city centre site.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

It consists of filaments and sheets made of dark matter and gas that surround gigantic, mostly empty regions of space known as voids.

From Science Daily • May 12, 2026

The prizes surround a framed photo of his beloved mother, Francisca Caballero.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

The company’s platform facilitates the digital ads that surround mobile apps, especially games.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Okay, he’s swimming hard now, through the chaos of currents that surround the cliffs...and then, he’s out of danger.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Related Words

• besiege
• circle
• envelop
• inundate
• ring