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.
However security is handled, there will be no ICE officers surveying the crowd with facial-recognition software and abducting people for unstated reasons.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
Under a tree stand two campus police officers in full gear and sunglasses, arms folded across their chests, surveying the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
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
About three months ago, fast-casual chain Panera Bread started surveying customers to understand their GLP-1 usage.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
In surveying, you started from a known point and ran your lines by compass.
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.
