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.
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.
(tr) to view or consider in a comprehensive or general way
to survey the situation
(tr) to examine carefully, as or as if to appraise value
to survey oneself in a mirror
to plot a detailed map of (an area of land) by measuring or calculating distances and height
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)
a comprehensive or general view
a survey of English literature
a critical, detailed, and formal inspection
a survey of the nation's hospitals
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
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. ))
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Her mastery of metal is on full, glorious display at the Guggenheim in the artist’s first museum survey.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
In an unusual move, the University of Michigan put out another press release on Friday basically defending its survey.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
In other positive news, consumer sentiment improved modestly heading into May, according to another survey.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
A preliminary analysis shows the estimates tracking with LA LEADS’ January survey with a slight uptick in tents from 60 to 74, Weissman said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
He strongly urged their leader to abandon the fixed survey method once and for all.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
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.
