surrounding

[ suh-roun-ding ]

noun

1. something that surrounds.
2. surroundings, environing things, circumstances, conditions, etc.; environment:

   He was too sick to be aware of his surroundings.

3. the act of encircling or enclosing.

adjective

1. enclosing or encircling.
2. being the environment or adjacent area.

Word History and Origins

Origin of surrounding¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: literally “inundation”; surround, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Synonym Study

See environment.

Example Sentences

The city apologized for its actions surrounding the displacement of the neighborhood in 2021, and discussions regarding reparations have continued for several years.

From Los Angeles Times

In the hope of curtailing damage to surrounding areas, park officials announced that weekend visits up to Horsetail Fall in February will now require reservations.

From Los Angeles Times

There are powerful moments, to be sure, surrounding the human drama, but, though moral questions are duly considered, the political drama registers less intensely — apart from it all seeming more than a little mad.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, there are ways Trump could weed out other government workers, including by making the job and surrounding environment more unpleasant, like by freezing hiring and requesting cuts to employee training and travel funds in the annual budget.

From Slate

"Adverts have become part of the ritual surrounding Christmas," Prof Helen Wheatley, a historian of television, told BBC News.

From BBC

Related Words

• neighboring