surround

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'surround' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to indicate that something is surrounding something else, or as a noun to refer to the things that are surrounding something. Example sentence: The winding mountain path was surrounded by tall trees.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But another Palestinian businessman, who owns some KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in the West Bank, is planning to open a restaurant within the walls and fences that surround the Gaza Strip, and a second application has been made for a KFC franchise in the tiny and crowded coastal territory.

The Guardian

We also surround ourselves with really good minds, people who have successful e-commerce ventures and our investors.

The Guardian

In a bid to avoid detection in the woods that surround the team's Bogliasco training facility, he had dressed up in full military camouflage gear.

The Guardian - Sport

I don't know why people are trying to surround my career with that".

The Guardian - Tech

Recently revealed plans indicating that Zuckerberg does not intend to build an entire compound on his land, but rather a single property, suggest that he is determined to surround himself with, well, almost no one (with the exception, presumably, of his wife, Priscilla Chan).

The Guardian - Tech

Artist-in-residence Artist-in-residence Artist-in-residence Artist-in-residence Grayioned to make the artwork to surround the main floor.

The Guardian

High fences and security will surround the facility, which will be away from the main road.

The Guardian

These titans, and those who surround them, overwhelmingly and stubbornly refuse to conform to the simple premise of triumphant good versus vanquished evil.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Still, being named as an acceptable alternative by Turkey was not likely to endear him to Assad or the senior figures in the military and security establishment who surround the president, Syrian and foreign observers said.

The Guardian

He warned me that the long thorns that surround sloe berries may inflict a wound upon you that will go septic.

The Guardian

Sitting at a table surround by adults, as Sunday lunch was served, I felt inordinately smug that I'd escaped the kids' table for once in my life.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surround", ensure the subject logically performs the action of encircling. For example, "mountains surround the city" is clearer than "the city is surround by mountains".

Common error

Avoid using "surround" excessively in the passive voice (e.g., "is surrounded by"). Active voice often makes the sentence more direct and impactful: instead of "The house is surrounded by trees", try "Trees surround the house".

Linguistic Context

Surround primarily functions as a verb, indicating the action of encircling or enclosing something. As Ludwig AI shows, it is commonly used to describe physical environments or abstract concepts that encompass a subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "surround" is a versatile verb meaning to encircle or enclose. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and widely used in both active and passive voice, although active voice is often preferred for its directness. It appears most frequently in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific writing. While synonyms like "encircle" or "enclose" offer similar meanings, "surround" provides a general term for describing something encompassing or being in the vicinity of something else. Avoid overuse in the passive voice for stronger writing and ensure the subject performs the action of encircling logically.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encircle

Focuses specifically on forming a circle around something.

enclose

Emphasizes the act of closing in or confining on all sides.

envelop

Suggests a complete covering or wrapping around something.

border

Implies being adjacent to or forming a boundary around something.

hem in

Indicates restricting movement or space by surrounding.

environ

A more formal way of saying to surround.

ring

Suggests forming a ring or circular shape around something.

skirt

Implies going around the edge of something.

be in the vicinity of

Indicates being near or in the general area of something.

be adjacent to

Emphasizes being next to or adjoining something.

FAQs

How can I use "surround" in a sentence?

You can use "surround" as a verb to describe something that encircles or encloses something else. For example, "High fences and security will surround the facility". You can also use "surround" in the passive voice, though active voice is often more direct.

What are some synonyms for "surround"?

Alternatives to "surround" include "encircle", "enclose", "envelop", and "border", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "surround" or "be surrounded by"?

While both are grammatically correct, using the active voice with "surround" (e.g., "Trees surround the house") is often more concise and impactful than the passive construction "be surrounded by" (e.g., "The house is surrounded by trees").

What does it mean to "surround yourself with" something or someone?

To "surround yourself with" something or someone means to deliberately place yourself in an environment where you are constantly exposed to that thing or person. For example, "Surround yourself with those who are operating at the frontiers of technology" implies seeking the company of technologically advanced individuals.