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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Road to Freedom
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Mexico City"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Surrounded by photographs of Suresh and their two children, the 39-year-old now struggles to reconcile that promise with her husband's death.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
Surrounded by a couple of top lieutenants, Kroenke watched in amazement as Bournemouth mathematically eliminated powerhouse Manchester City from contention.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Surrounded by company executives as he sat at his Oval Office desk, Trump said there would be "no negative impact" from the changes.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
Surrounded by dancers, the Italian rapper Ghali read an antiwar poem by Gianni Rodari.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026
Surrounded by a large crowd of refugees, we line up on the pier in single file waiting to be registered.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
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.
