surrounded

Everyday

1. Surrounded is the past of surround: was or were all around something. tree →
2. As an adjective, «surrounded by» means having things or people all around you. tree →

In the lessons

In geography: «an island is land surrounded by water». In stories: «They were surrounded by enemies», «a castle surrounded by a moat». In everyday life: «I grew up surrounded by animals». In maths, a shape surrounded by a border.

Examples

• An island is land surrounded by water. tree →
• The castle was surrounded by a deep moat. tree →
• We were surrounded by sheep in the field. tree →
• The police surrounded the building. tree →
• She sat surrounded by books in the library. tree →
• The house is surrounded by tall trees. tree →
• Surrounded by friends, he blew out the candles. tree →
• Here the god himself reposes, surrounded by innumerable forms. tree →

Note

Past tense and past participle of surround; double r and -ed. Usually followed by «by» or «with». Being «surrounded» in a story often means there is no easy way out.

In Jewish tradition

In geography: «an island is land surrounded by water». In stories: «They were surrounded by enemies», «a castle surrounded by a moat». In everyday life: «I grew up surrounded by animals». In maths, a shape surrounded by a border.

Examples

• The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me. (Prophets 2SA.22.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past tense and past participle of surround; double r and -ed. Usually followed by «by» or «with». Being «surrounded» in a story often means there is no easy way out.