survey
verb (used with object)
to take a general or comprehensive view of or appraise, as a situation, area of study, etc.
survey
1 American
[ser-vay, sur-vay, ser-vay]
/ sərˈveɪ, ˈsɜr veɪ, sərˈveɪ /
verb (used with object)
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surveys,
present (3rd person singular)
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surveyed,
past participle, past
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surveying
present participle
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to take a general or comprehensive view of or appraise, as a situation, area of study, etc.
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to view in detail, especially to inspect, examine, or appraise formally or officially in order to ascertain condition, value, etc.
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to conduct a survey of or among.
to survey TV viewers.
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to determine the exact form, boundaries, position, extent, etc., of (a tract of land, section of a country, etc.) by linear and angular measurements and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry.
verb (used without object)
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surveys,
present (3rd person singular)
-
surveyed,
past participle, past
-
surveying
present participle
noun
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surveys
plural
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an act or instance of surveying or of taking a comprehensive view of something.
The course is a survey of Italian painting.
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a formal or official examination of the particulars of something, made in order to ascertain condition, character, etc.
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a statement or description embodying the result of this.
They presented their survey to the board of directors.
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a sampling, or partial collection, of facts, figures, or opinions taken and used to approximate or indicate what a complete collection and analysis might reveal.
The survey showed the percentage of the population that planned to vote.
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the act of determining the exact form, boundaries, position, etc., as of a tract of land or section of a country, by linear measurements, angular measurements, etc.
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the plan or description resulting from such an operation.
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an agency for making determinations.
U.S. Geological Survey.
survey.
2
American
abbreviation
survey
British
verb
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(tr) to view or consider in a comprehensive or general way
to survey the situation
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(tr) to examine carefully, as or as if to appraise value
to survey oneself in a mirror
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to plot a detailed map of (an area of land) by measuring or calculating distances and height
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to inspect a building to determine its condition and value
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to examine a vessel thoroughly in order to determine its seaworthiness
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(tr) to run a statistical survey on (incomes, opinions, etc)
noun
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a comprehensive or general view
a survey of English literature
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a critical, detailed, and formal inspection
a survey of the nation's hospitals
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an inspection of a building to determine its condition and value
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a report incorporating the results of such an inspection
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a body of surveyors
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an area surveyed
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statistics a random sample
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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presurveynoun
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self-surveynoun
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presurveyverb (used with object)
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self-surveyedadjective
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surveyableadjective
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unsurveyableadjective
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unsurveyedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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surveysimple
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surveyssimple
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have surveyedperfect
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has surveyedperfect
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am surveyingprogressive
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are surveyingprogressive
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is surveyingprogressive
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have been surveyingperfect progressive
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has been surveyingperfect progressive
Past
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surveyedsimple
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had surveyedperfect
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was surveyingprogressive
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were surveyingprogressive
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had been surveyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of survey
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English surveien (verb), from Anglo-French surveier, Middle French surv(e)ier, surveoir “to oversee,” from sur- sur- 1 + v(e)ier “to see” (from Latin vidēre; cf. video ( def. ), vision ( def. ))
Explanation
The verb survey means to look something over. When you buy your first home, it's a pleasure to stand on the porch and survey your property. Survey has several meanings, all of which come from Medieval Latin and Anglo words for looking over. As a noun, survey can mean a detailed study of something, but it also means a short summary with a broad view. A survey course gives an overview of a particular subject area, but doesn't make you an expert. Survey is also a verb. If you survey an area hit by an earthquake, you look closely at it to measure the damage.
Vocabulary lists containing survey
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"Rogue Wave," Vocabulary from the short story
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Common Senses: Vid, Vis ("See")
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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.
See Examples For:
A 2023 survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals found growing public opposition, particularly among younger people and pet owners, with 71% backing a ban on the consumption and trade of cat meat.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Another survey, from the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy, found 57 percent placing groceries, gas or utilities among their top three issues.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
U.S. services-sector activity expanded at a slower pace in September, a survey of managers found.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Thomas said continuity of care came up repeatedly among the Tenovus survey of GPs.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Every day, as he worked on the survey of Salem, he heard more stories of trouble at sea.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
“The real test of Jewish voting intentions is not contained in our survey. It would be in the state of Florida,” said David Harris, chief executive of the AJC, a nonpartisan advocacy organization.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 12, 2019
“But all these assumptions can be refuted by the results of this survey. The survey results clearly show that veiled women are often harassed, even during the day.”
From The Guardian ● Jul. 17, 2019
“The prevailing view among publics around the world is that the United States remains the top global economic power, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. “
From Washington Times ● Jul. 13, 2017
With a map taken from the most recent survey. 8vo.
From Records of a Girlhood by Fanny Kemble
With a Map, taken from the most recent survey. 8vo.
From Landolin by Berthold Auerbach
Almost 160 million Brazilians are eligible to vote in this election and, with polls typically surveying just thousands of people, the end result can differ considerably from the indications given by surveys.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Unedited excerpts from the surveys, in which candidates lay out detailed goals and policy analysis, can be found at the links below.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Researchers combined DNA analysis with museum specimens, field surveys, citizen science observations, and studies of insects raised in captivity.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
The data contrasts with business surveys for September last week, which pointed to a further pickup in activity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Underwater surveys of the area northeast of the island clearly show remnants of the tower toppled in that direction, with more than two thousand of its blocks Uttering the harbor bed.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
Research by cancer charity Tenovus, in support of Claire's Campaign, external, found about half of the 100 GPs surveyed across Wales felt limited consultation time was a major concern.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Camera traps across the sites confirmed this: Leadbeater’s possums were found in every silvicultural treatment plot we surveyed – but none of the unharvested areas.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026
On a recent afternoon I joined Roden-Reynolds, the public health biologist, as he surveyed an elderly couple’s yard in Chilmark, a tick hot spot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
About 13% of 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed last year by AlixPartners said they wouldn’t pay extra for same-day shipping, down from 30% the year before.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
He held my father’s rifle casually in his hands, as he surveyed the mob.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
She stopped in the middle of the woods during a walk, looked with disapproval at my light jacket, and threw her hands up in mock confusion, surveying the snow-encrusted pines.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
I’m also surveying Gen Z–ers to better understand their investing behaviors for a New American Playbook story publishing next week.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Hastily-put-together surveying is apparently being done now in an attempt to placate the development’s detractors.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
The trust said it was partly due to the unusually hot weather but also the result of increased surveying and monitoring in the county.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
In surveying, the earth was firm beneath your telescope.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
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.
