surround
/səˈraʊnd/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈraʊnd/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈrau̇nd/ (ame, mw)
surround — verb
- surroundpresent simple I / you / we / they
- surroundshe / she / it
- surroundedpast simple
- surrounding-ing form
1. to form a complete ring around a person, thing, or place, so that they are at th
to form a complete ring around a person, thing, or place, so that they are at the centre with nothing between them and what encircles them.
The mountain peaks surround the small village on every side.
surround + noun phrase (place) showing physical location
Salma felt nervous as bright camera lights surrounded her on stage.
A tall wooden fence surrounds the garden where Beatrix grows vegetables.
Dark pine forests surround the cabin, making it feel completely cut off from the town.
The old church is surrounded by a quiet cemetery filled with stone crosses.
- expose
to leave something open and uncovered, without protective barriers
文法句型
surround + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive form (be surrounded by). The subject is typically a physical barrier, natural feature, group of people, or lights.
常見錯誤
2. to position people or vehicles all around a building, vehicle, or person so that
to position people or vehicles all around a building, vehicle, or person so that no one can leave and those inside are forced to give up or surrender.
Police surrounded the warehouse after receiving a tip about the robbery suspects.
surround + building for law enforcement scenario
Minh and two other officers surrounded the car and ordered the driver to step out.
The soldiers surrounded the enemy camp during the night so that nobody could slip away.
A crowd of journalists surrounded the politician's car as it tried to leave the courthouse.
- hem in
phrasal verb; more informal, suggests tight confinement
- close in on
phrasal verb; implies gradual narrowing of the surrounding space
- free
to allow someone to leave without restriction
文法句型
surround + noun phrase + so that/in order to
用法筆記
Often appears in police, military, or reporting contexts. The purpose is clearly to restrict movement. Distinguish from sense 1 (BE ALL AROUND), where the focus is simply on position, not on preventing escape.
3. to be so closely linked to an event, situation, or feeling that the two cannot b
to be so closely linked to an event, situation, or feeling that the two cannot be separated — for example, when mystery surrounds a crime or rumours surround a celebrity.
A great deal of mystery surrounds the disappearance of the ancient manuscript.
mystery + surround(s) + noun (abstract subject pattern)
Several unanswered questions surround the company's sudden decision to close the factory.
Strict secrecy surrounds the location of the research facility where Talia works.
Controversy has surrounded the politician ever since the leaked emails were made public.
Dark rumours surrounded the old hotel long before it was finally closed down.
- be related to
more neutral; less suggestive of enclosing or covering
- be connected with
broader and more general than 'surround'
- cloud
verb; suggests negative or confusing associations
文法句型
mystery/secrecy/controversy + surround(s) + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject is typically an abstract noun: mystery, secrecy, controversy, rumour, question, myth. Almost never used with a human subject in this sense. Objects are events, situations, or phenomena.
常見錯誤
4. to intentionally keep specific people or objects near you because they give you
to intentionally keep specific people or objects near you because they give you comfort, happiness, or a sense of status.
Yasmin likes to surround herself with positive people who encourage her to grow.
reflexive pattern: surround + oneself + with + people
The director surrounded himself with a team of young, talented designers.
Henrik surrounds himself with books, photos, and objects from his travels around the world.
Renata has always surrounded herself with music, filling every room with instruments and speakers.
- keep around
more informal; less deliberate in tone
- gather
implies the act of bringing together rather than the resulting state
- avoid
to stay away from people or things intentionally
文法句型
surround + reflexive pronoun + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used reflexively (surround yourself with) or in a passive-reflexive construction (be surrounded by in the sense of 'be accompanied by'). The object is the people or things one chooses to keep near.
常見錯誤
surround — noun
- surroundsingular
- surroundsplural
1. a decorative or protective border that fits around the edge of an object or fixt
a decorative or protective border that fits around the edge of an object or fixture — for instance, around a fireplace, a bathtub, or a loudspeaker.
The wooden surround of the old fireplace was carved with delicate flowers and leaves.
the [noun] surround: fireplace surround
Ilan chose a simple white tile surround for the bathtub to match the bathroom walls.
The metal surround of the speaker vibrated whenever the music was turned up loud.
Mira replaced the cracked ceramic surround around the kitchen sink with a new marble one.
文法句型
the [noun] surround
[material] surround
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, 'frame' or 'rim' is more common for most of these contexts. Often appears in home improvement and interior design contexts.
2. the general area that forms the immediate environment of a particular place, lyi
the general area that forms the immediate environment of a particular place, lying close beside it on all sides.
The hotel is set in a peaceful surround of green hills and small lakes.
in a [adjective] surround: peaceful / natural surround
Zola enjoys the quiet natural surround of her cottage in the countryside.
The school sits in an urban surround of busy streets and tall apartment blocks.
The new housing development damaged the natural surround of the coastal wetlands.
- surroundings
the standard plural form; far more common in everyday English
- setting
emphasises how something fits into its environment
- environment
broader; can include social and cultural factors
文法句型
the surround of [place]
in a [adjective] surround
用法筆記
Considerably less common than the plural form 'surroundings', which is the preferred word in everyday speech. This singular form is most often found in descriptive or literary passages about landscapes.