surrounding
suh-ROWN-dihng
Surrounding (noun) means an area or environment close to or around something. Example: “They explored the town and its surrounding countryside.”
noun
1
An area or environment close to or around something.
"It was inevitable that German music should leave its impress upon the song of the Jew, that the Jew's spirit should be imbued with the musical scale and style of his surrounding."
— Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, Jewish Music: Its Historical Development (1929)
"They explored the town and its surrounding countryside."
"They require a surrounding which keeps them from sinking into apathy through tasks which they are able to solve and duties they can carry out."
— Kraft Eberhard Von Maltzahn, Nature as Landscape: Dwelling and Understanding (1994)
"The hotel's peaceful surroundings make it ideal for a quiet weekend."
"It took the puppy a few days to get used to its new surroundings."
How to use surrounding
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe area right around a place, or nearby.
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Word forms
- Plural
- surroundings
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They explored the town and its _____ countryside.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for surrounding
See all rhymes for surrounding →Frequently asked questions
What does “surrounding” mean?
The word “surrounding” means an area or environment close to or around something. In plain terms, the area right around a place, or nearby.
How do you pronounce “surrounding”?
“Surrounding” is pronounced suh-ROWN-dihng (/səˈɹaʊndɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “surrounding” in a sentence?
Here is “surrounding” used in a sentence: “They explored the town and its surrounding countryside.”
What is another word for “surrounding”?
Words with a similar meaning to “surrounding” include periphery.
What part of speech is “surrounding”?
“Surrounding” is a noun.
Is “surrounding” a common word?
“Surrounding” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between surrounding and surroundings?
'Surroundings,' with an s, is the usual noun, meaning everything around you: 'she admired her leafy surroundings.' 'Surrounding' more often works as an adjective, as in 'the surrounding hills.' The singular noun does appear, but the plural 'surroundings' is far more common in everyday speech.
What is the difference between surroundings and environment?
The two overlap closely. 'Surroundings' usually refers to the immediate area right around a person or thing at a given moment. 'Environment' is broader, covering all the conditions — physical, social, or natural — that influence something. Your surroundings are part of your wider environment.
What is an example of surroundings?
If you sit in a quiet park with trees, benches, and birdsong, all of that makes up your surroundings — the area and atmosphere immediately around you. The word applies equally to a cluttered desk, a busy street, or the countryside near a house.
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