surround
suh-ROWND
Surround (verb) means to be positioned on all sides of something; to encircle. Example: “A high wall surrounds the old castle.”
verb
1
To be positioned on all sides of something; to encircle.
"A high wall surrounds the old castle."
"Police surrounded the building within minutes."
"Tall pine trees surround the lake, making it very quiet and peaceful."
noun
1
A border or frame that goes around something.
"The fireplace has a marble surround."
"We chose a black surround for the mirror to match the bathroom tiles."
"The window surround needs a fresh coat of paint before winter."
How to use surround
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo encircle something on all sides, or the border that does so.
Common pairings
surrounded by
a fireplace surround
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Word forms
- Plural
- surrounds
- Third person singular
- surrounds
- Past tense
- surrounded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A high wall _____ the old castle.
Etymology
From Middle French souronder, from Late Latin superundare ("to overflow"), from super- ("over") + unda ("wave").
Synonyms
View more →
encircle
enclose
encompass
hem in
envelop
beleaguer
besiege
environs
surroundings
environment
environ
embed
Related words
Rhymes for surround
See all rhymes for surround →Frequently asked questions
What does “surround” mean?
The word “surround” means to be positioned on all sides of something; to encircle. In plain terms, to encircle something on all sides, or the border that does so.
How do you pronounce “surround”?
“Surround” is pronounced suh-ROWND (/səˈɹaʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “surround” in a sentence?
Here is “surround” used in a sentence: “A high wall surrounds the old castle.”
What is another word for “surround”?
Words with a similar meaning to “surround” include environ, embed, ensphere, bebay and beset.
What part of speech is “surround”?
Depending on how it is used, “surround” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “surround” come from?
The word “surround” comes from Late Latin. From Middle French souronder, from Late Latin superundare ("to overflow"), from super- ("over") + unda ("wave").
Is “surround” a common word?
“Surround” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “surround” have?
“Surround” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to be positioned on all sides of something; to encircle.
What is the difference between surround and encircle?
"Surround" means to be positioned on all sides of something, which can apply loosely to being generally around an area or object. "Encircle" more specifically implies forming a complete, ring-like boundary around something, so it is a more precise, circular version of surrounding.
What is the difference between "surround" as a verb and as a noun?
As a verb, "surround" means to be positioned on all sides of something, as in "trees surround the house." As a noun, a "surround" refers to a border or frame that goes around something, such as a decorative surround around a fireplace.
