Definitions
01to be all around
B1 · Intermediate
v. to be everywhere around something or someone.
v. to encircle or encompass something on all sides.
“Tall trees surround the lake, making it feel very private.”
“The medieval city walls once completely surrounded the old town, protecting the inhabitants from external threats for centuries.”
02to trap or hem in
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to move around someone or something so they cannot escape.
v. to enclose or confine a person or group on all sides to prevent movement or escape.
“The police surrounded the building and told the suspect to come out.”
“The troops moved quickly to surround the enemy position, cutting off all potential supply lines and escape routes before nightfall.”
03a border or frame
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
n. a border or decorative frame that goes around something, like a fireplace.
n. a decorative or functional border or casing that encircles an object.
“They chose a modern marble surround for the new fireplace.”
“The architect specified a brushed-metal surround for the doorway to complement the industrial aesthetic of the gallery space.”
Usage
Commonly used in the context of home fixtures like 'fireplace surround'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “surround” in context.
Verb
01. surround the garden with a fence
“We decided to surround the garden with a fence to keep the deer away from the vegetables.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. surround yourself with positive people
“If you want to be successful, you should surround yourself with positive people who support your goals.”
verb + noun + prep + adj + noun
Noun
03. controversy surrounding the decision
“There is a lot of controversy surrounding the decision to close the local library.”
noun + verb
04. mystery surrounding the disappearance
“The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the ancient artifact remains unsolved to this day.”
noun + verb
Preposition
05. in the surrounding area
“The hotel is very quiet, but there are many excellent restaurants in the surrounding area.”
prep + adj + noun
Adverb
06. closely surround the star
“Fans began to closely surround the star as soon as he stepped out of the limousine.”
adv + verb + noun
07. completely surround the building
“The police officers moved quickly to completely surround the building before the suspect could escape.”
adv + verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“I found myself surrounded by thousands of young people all singing the same songs, swaying to the same rhythm, and participating in the same moment.” “Carolina Molina says she was out delivering business cards in Falls Church, Virginia, when she saw ICE agents, who then surrounded her car.” “In July, settlers also surrounded a Palestinian home in the village of Jalud, near Qusra, for more than two weeks.” “If you’re in a field and surrounded by animals, their behaviour often changes.” Etymology
From Middle English sourrounden (“to submerge, overflow”), from Middle French souronder, suronder, from Late Latin superundō, from super + undō (“to rise in waves”), from unda (“wave”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/surround
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0