surveying

[ ser-vey-ing ]

noun

1. the science or scientific method of making surveys of land.
2. the occupation of one who makes land surveys.
3. the act of one who surveys:

   The surveying required nearly two days.

surveying

/ sɜːˈveɪɪŋ /

noun

1. the study or practice of measuring altitudes, angles, and distances on the land surface so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
2. the setting out on the ground of the positions of proposed construction or engineering works

Word History and Origins

Origin of surveying¹

1425–75; late Middle English: act of examining closely; survey, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

“I heard from most or all of the board members that surveying is something that would make sense to do,” Halpern said.

From Voice of San Diego

Having never worked in the NBA, Hankins got up to speed by studying the franchise’s history and surveying fans.

From Washington Post

We do have a decent amount of surveying we run through our emails, but we’ll revisit whether we should be increasing the frequency of it.

From Digiday

We stay on top of who our customers are and what they need through support, surveying and talking directly to them.

From Digiday

During the experiment, Hussam and her colleagues paid one group to engage in a surveying job over two months.

From MIT Technology Review

By refusing to even acknowledge that there was a campaign kept major polling and media organizations from surveying the race.

From The Daily Beast

Then he pauses and looks up, doing a quick bout of surveying in his head.

From The Daily Beast

Were they checking in on conditions at the hospital and surveying local veterans?

From The Daily Beast

Then, she brings the talk back to Burger Chef, and the surveying she did in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

From The Daily Beast

ADAM hit its peak in the 2000s, surveying arrestees in 35 counties and inspiring international survey of the same kind.

From The Daily Beast

There, too, was James Duane, with never so great need of his "surveying eye" to enable him to size up the situation.

From Project Gutenberg

The writer having carried the surveying chain, was present at the trial at the Bodmin assizes in 1829.

From Project Gutenberg

“The sun will be down in a few minutes,” said the mate, turning round and once more surveying the western horizon.

From Project Gutenberg

He glanced at Rita, who was standing very near him, surveying the evil little room and its owner with ill-concealed disgust.

From Project Gutenberg

He took her by the shoulders and held her at arms' length, before him, thus surveying her, and there was trouble in his keen eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attentive
• discerning
• discriminating
• intelligent
• mindful
• perceptive
• vigilant