- present participle of surround.
surrounding
Americannoun
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something that surrounds.
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surroundings, environing things, circumstances, conditions, etc.; environment.
He was too sick to be aware of his surroundings.
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the act of encircling or enclosing.
adjective
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enclosing or encircling.
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being the environment or adjacent area.
Synonym Usage
See environment.
Etymology
Origin of surrounding
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: literally “inundation”; see origin at surround, -ing 1, -ing 2
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.
Vanda Research has been monitoring activity among individual investors for any signs of a comeback as the U.S. stock market pulls back this month amid volatility surrounding the artificial-intelligence trade.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
For Hooks, however, the renovation’s success will ultimately be measured by its impact on the surrounding community.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Launches and reentries of spacecraft can generate a lot of noise, alter wildlife habitats and have other impacts on the surrounding landscapes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
We heard that a lot during a week in Durán, and surrounding areas.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
There are still tendrils of mist threaded through the evergreens that rise along the surrounding bluffs.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
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.
