- present participle of surround.
surrounding
Americannoun
-
something that surrounds.
-
surroundings, environing things, circumstances, conditions, etc.; environment.
He was too sick to be aware of his surroundings.
-
the act of encircling or enclosing.
adjective
-
enclosing or encircling.
-
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.
Meanwhile, Parker’s wife blew a horn to summon supporters from the surrounding countryside; a large group of local residents responded.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
An inquest into the circumstances surrounding Deakin's death will now be opened.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
New research now suggests that changes in the space environment surrounding the Sun may also have played an important role.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026
It said the attack targeted military-industrial and fuel and energy facilities in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
His request was quickly denied, but the degrees surrounding his name were enough to gather a crowd of reporters.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
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.
