surrounded
Americanadjective
-
(of troops, a fort or town, etc.) encircled or hemmed in by enemies on all sides so as to cut off communication or retreat.
Only a few of the surrounded infantrymen survived, escaping in the darkness of the early morning.
-
enclosed or shut in on all sides, as by a barrier or border, desert or mountains, etc. (usually used in combination).
The huge master bedroom features a granite-surrounded whirlpool tub.
The surrounded parcel of land is provided with road access by a right-of-way through one of the encircling properties.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of surrounded
First recorded in 1590–1600, for an earlier sense; surround ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; surround ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense
Explanation
Are there people on every side of you, giving you no way to escape? Then you're surrounded. Sorry to hear it! Being surrounded is one way of being trapped, but it's a trap caused by other people. On TV shows, you'll often hear police officers say to a criminal: "Come out with your hands up. You're surrounded!" If a criminal is surrounded, then the police have every exit covered — there are police on all sides. If you look closely at surrounded, you'll see round in it — just picture that round circle trapping someone in, and you will remember the meaning of surrounded.
Vocabulary lists containing surrounded
"In the Spotlight," Vocabulary from the informational text
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The Road to Freedom
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"Mexico City"
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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.
Last year, the Gallery, where fantastical cityscapes and projections surrounded downtown L.A. diners, stood just a couple months before the concept was abandoned.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026
Rooney rated Bellingham's performance in the last-16 victory in Mexico's capital as a '10 out of 10' given the 'pitfalls' which surrounded the game.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, appeared among the crowds on scooters, surrounded by security details, according to images posted on state media.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
At a car showroom at the market, owner Noor Ali was surrounded by a dozen colourful vehicles built with imported Japanese parts.
From Barron's • Jul. 5, 2026
Natalie remembered the ocean that surrounded “Liberty Island.”
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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.
