survey

[ verb ser-vey; noun sur-vey, ser-vey ]

/ verb sərˈveɪ; noun ˈsɜr veɪ, sərˈveɪ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for survey on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to take a general or comprehensive view of or appraise, as a situation, area of study, etc.

to view in detail, especially to inspect, examine, or appraise formally or officially in order to ascertain condition, value, etc.

to conduct a survey of or among: to survey TV viewers.

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)

to survey land; practice surveying.

noun, plural sur·veys.

an act or instance of surveying or of taking a comprehensive view of something: The course is a survey of Italian painting.

a formal or official examination of the particulars of something, made in order to ascertain condition, character, etc.

a statement or description embodying the result of this: They presented their survey to the board of directors.

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.

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.

the plan or description resulting from such an operation.

an agency for making determinations: U.S. Geological Survey.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of survey

1425–75; late Middle English surveien (v.) <Anglo-French surveier,Middle French surv(e)ier, surveoir to oversee, equivalent to sur-sur-¹ + v(e)ier<Latin vidēre to see

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

sur·vey·a·ble, adjectivepre·sur·vey, nounpre·sur·vey, verb (used with object)self-survey, noun

self-sur·veyed, adjectiveun·sur·vey·a·ble, adjectiveun·sur·veyed, adjective

Words nearby survey

surv., surveil, surveillance, surveillance society, surveillant, survey, survey course, surveying, surveyor, surveyor's chain, surveyor's compass

Other definitions for survey (2 of 2)

survey.

abbreviation

surveying.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use survey in a sentence

Starting in early 2018, researchers collected survey data and satellite imagery from 36 communities partnered with the foundation and 40 control communities.
Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.|Sigal Samuel|September 17, 2020|Vox
Respondents for this survey were selected from the more than 2 million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform each day.
SurveyMonkey poll: Suburbs and the safety wedge|Margaret Talev|September 17, 2020|Axios
According to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center, nearly half of registered voters expect casting their ballots will be difficult, a 34-point increase since the 2018 midterms.
ProPublica’s Pandemic Guide to Making Sure Your Vote Counts|by Susie Armitage|September 16, 2020|ProPublica
Not every customer will choose to participate in a survey, but some will.
How to drive digital innovation necessary during the pandemic|Nick Chasinov|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Watch

The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was among those that didn’t participate in the survey and went unrated.
HRC examines hospital policies, impact of COVID on LGBTQ people|Lou Chibbaro Jr.|September 16, 2020|Washington Blade
Hispanics, notes a recent Pew survey economic issues easily trump immigration.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This study uses the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), which is really a tool that tracks crimes.
College Girls Are Less Likely to Be Raped Than Non-Students|Brandy Zadrozny|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That statistic is based on a survey that includes attempted forced kissing as sexual assault.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Medical University of South Carolina released a survey of 2,000 college women in 2007.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That creates an obvious statistical issue: The results of a survey of two campuses cannot be extrapolated for the entire country.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He scratched his head, scrutinized the article he had been perusing, and took a graceful survey of the paper.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
"I thought probably some more of our friends would show up," he said, after a quick survey.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Upon the geographical positions of the fixed points of the survey.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
At last a servant-girl came to the open door with a broom in her hand to survey the aspect of things in general.
The Garret and the Garden|R.M. Ballantyne
Suppose the grantor has declared in his deed that the land contains a hundred acres and a survey finds only fifty.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for survey

survey

verb (sɜːˈveɪ, ˈsɜːveɪ)

(tr) to view or consider in a comprehensive or general wayto survey the situation

(tr) to examine carefully, as or as if to appraise valueto survey oneself in a mirror

to plot a detailed map of (an area of land) by measuring or calculating distances and height

British to inspect a building to determine its condition and value

to examine a vessel thoroughly in order to determine its seaworthiness

(tr) to run a statistical survey on (incomes, opinions, etc)

noun (ˈsɜːveɪ)

a comprehensive or general viewa survey of English literature

a critical, detailed, and formal inspectiona survey of the nation's hospitals

British an inspection of a building to determine its condition and value

a report incorporating the results of such an inspection

a body of surveyors
an area surveyed

statistics a random sample

Derived forms of survey

surveyable, adjective

Word Origin for survey

C15: from French surveoir, from sur- 1 + veoir to see, from Latin vidēre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

survey

Origin of survey

OTHER WORDS FROM survey

Words nearby survey

Other definitions for survey (2 of 2)

Words related to survey

How to use survey in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for survey

Derived forms of survey

Word Origin for survey