Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

surround

/səˈɹaʊnd/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.79 in modern English

Syllables
sur-round
IPA
/səˈɹaʊnd/
9
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To encircle something or simultaneously extend in all directions.

Transitive verb

verb

To enclose or confine something on all sides so as to prevent escape.

Transitive verb

verb

To pass around; to travel about; to circumnavigate.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

noun

Anything, such as a fence or border, that surrounds something.

British usage

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Italic *super Latin super Latin super- Latin unda Latin undō Late Latin superundōder. Middle French souronderbor. Middle English sourrounden English surround 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”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *wed-, sourrounden, souronder, superundō

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce surround?
The recorded pronunciation is /səˈɹaʊnd/.
What does surround mean?
To encircle something or simultaneously extend in all directions.
Where does surround come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce surround

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “surround”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/səˈɹaʊnd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “surround”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “surround” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.