surroundings
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the place where you are and the things that are around you.
the physical area and conditions surrounding a person or thing; the environment or setting.
Simple“The hotel was simple, but the natural surroundings were beautiful.”
In context“After living in a crowded city for years, she found it difficult to adjust to the quiet surroundings of the countryside.”
UsageAlways used in the plural form when referring to an environment.
PitfallThe surrounding was very beautiful. The surroundings were very beautiful.In this sense, the word is always plural and takes a plural verb.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
everything in the universe that is not part of the specific system being studied.
the portion of the universe outside the boundaries of a thermodynamic system.
Simple“Heat is transferred from the chemical reaction to its surroundings.”
In context“In an isolated system, there is no exchange of either matter or energy with the surroundings.”
UsageUsed to distinguish the external environment from the internal system in physics and chemistry.
SynonymsAntonyms
“Amphibians generally do not travel long distances during their lives, and they are highly sensitive to changes in their surroundings.”
“It combines past experiences, information from your surroundings and signals from inside your body to create your everyday experiences.”