noun
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the study or practice of measuring altitudes, angles, and distances on the land surface so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
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the setting out on the ground of the positions of proposed construction or engineering works
Etymology
Origin of surveying
1425–75; late Middle English: act of examining closely; see survey, -ing 1
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.
The ranking resulted from surveying more than 24,000 city residents worldwide and gathering insights from a panel of Time Out experts and editors.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
It was Monday and the officer, Shameem Sabbir, was surveying a seascape breaking into open conflict.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
She then spent an additional $60,000 on surveying, engineering and adding dirt to protect against flooding.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026
After surveying more than 200 authors, publishers, journalists and book club enthusiasts, we named the 101 best book club picks.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Navigation, Nat thought, was like surveying, all right.
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.
