surround

American  

[suh-round] / səˈraʊnd /

verb (used with object)

surrounds, present (3rd person singular) surrounded, past participle, past surrounding present participle

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

Derived Forms

• surrounding
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• surrounding
  present
• surrounded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• surround
  simple
• surrounds
  simple
• have surrounded
  perfect
• has surrounded
  perfect
• am surrounding
  progressive
• are surrounding
  progressive
• is surrounding
  progressive
• have been surrounding
  perfect progressive
• has been surrounding
  perfect progressive

Past

• surrounded
  simple
• had surrounded
  perfect
• was surrounding
  progressive
• were surrounding
  progressive
• had been surrounding
  perfect progressive

Future

• will surround
  simple
• will have surrounded
  perfect
• will be surrounding
  progressive
• will have been surrounding
  perfect progressive

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

The premise remains the same: Surround one real person with actors, build an entire world around them, and hope they respond with decency.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

Surround yourself with greatness, surround yourself with greatness.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025

Surround yourself with people who will support your decision.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 22, 2022

Surround the plant with newspaper or towels to prevent it from sliding around in the box.

From Washington Post • Jan. 13, 2022

"Surround the other, and don't let him raise a hand, boys!" shouted the scoutmaster to those who had followed close at his heels when he thus rushed forward.

From The Boy Scouts in the Rockies or the Secret of the Hidden Silver Mine by Carter, Herbert

Related Words

• besiege
• circle
• envelop
• inundate
• ring