Meanings
nounsurvey (plural surveys)
plural surveys
- A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of a particular group of items, in order to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality.
A survey of the stores of a ship; a survey of roads and bridges; a survey of buildings.
Synonyms: review
- The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of any part of the Earth's surface.
- A measured plan and description of any portion of country.
The owners of the adjoining plots had conflicting surveys.
- An examination of the opinions and/or information of a group of people.
The local council conducted a survey of its residents to help it decide whether to go ahead with the roadside waste collection service.
- A questionnaire or similar instrument used for examining the opinions and/or information of a group of people.
I just filled out that survey on roadside waste pick-up.
- historicalAn auction at which a farm is let for a lease for lives.
verbsurvey (third-person singular simple present surveys, present participle surveying, simple past and past participle surveyed)
present singular third person surveys · participle present surveying · participle past surveyed · past surveyed
- To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook
He stood on a hill, and surveyed the surrounding country.
1 more example
Round he ſurveys, and well might, where he ſtood / So high above[…]
1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC - To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
[…]with ſuch alter'd Looks,[…] / All pale, and ſpeechleſs, he ſurvey'd me round;
1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act V, page 661 more example
By using the same classification system for all the dictionaries surveyed, it was possible to compare the lexical richness of each against the other.
2012, James Lambert, “Beyond Hobson-Jobson: A new lexicography for Indian English”, in World Englishes, page 297 - To determine the form, extent, position, etc., of, as a tract of land, a coast, harbor, or the like, by means of linear and angular measurements, and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry
to survey land or a coast
2 more examples
The proposed route had been surveyed by George Stephenson and consisted of a main line 41⅝ miles in length with two short branches, to Norbury and Poynton Collieries, and to Chapel-en-le-Frith.
1960 March, J. P. Wilson, E. N. C. Haywood, “The route through the Peak - Derby to Manchester: Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 148He explained that engineers had been able to examine the bridge visually, and had started surveying likely sites for access roads and where to place the heavyweight crawler crane. NR was also ordering the aggregates needed for the access roads.
2020 August 26, “Network News: Mid-September before line reopens, says Network Rail”, in Rail, page 10 - To examine and ascertain, as the boundaries and royalties of a manor, the tenure of the tenants, and the rent and value of the same.
all the Tenants Leases and Copies are surveyed
1713, Giles Jacob, The Complete Court-keeper: Or, Land-steward's Assistant - To investigate the opinions, experiences, etc., of people by asking them questions; to conduct a survey; to administer a questionnaire.
Synonyms: circularize
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of a particular group of items, in order to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality.
Similar
verbTo inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook
verbTo investigate the opinions, experiences, etc., of people by asking them questions; to conduct a survey; to administer a questionnaire.
Similar
More synonyms by meaning
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinvidere
- Old Frenchsourveoir
- Middle Englishsurveyen
- Englishsurvey
From Middle English surveyen, from Old French sourveoir, surveer (“to oversee”), from sour-, sur- (“over”) + veoir, veeir (“to see”), from Latin videre. See sur- and vision. Related to supervision.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic اِسْتِبَانَة, اِسْتِطْلَاع
- اِسْتِبَانَة (istibāna)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
- اِسْتِطْلَاع (istiṭlāʕ)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
Bulgarian преглед, обзор
- преглед (pregled)act of surveying
- обзор (obzor)act of surveying
- изследване (izsledvane)an examination
- топографско заснемане (topografsko zasnemane)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- допитване (dopitvane)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
- анкета (anketa)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
- изследвам (izsledvam)to inspect; to examine
- инспектирам (inspektiram)to inspect; to examine
- анкетирам (anketiram)To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Catalan enquestar, enquesta
- enquestaract of surveying
- enquestaan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- enquestarTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Chinese Mandarin 查勘, 調查 /调查
- 查勘 (chákān)an examination
- 調查 /调查 (diàochá)an examination
- 測量 /测量 (cèliáng)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- 民意測驗 /民意测验 (mínyì cèyàn)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
Czech zaměření, zjištění
- zaměřeníact of surveying
- zjištěnían examination
- průzkuman examination
- inspekcean examination
- anketaan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- dotazníkan examination of the opinions, information of a group
Danish spørgeundersøgelse
- spørgeundersøgelsean examination of the opinions, information of a group
Dutch enquête, inspectie
- enquêtean examination
- inspectiean examination
- onderzoekan examination
- rapportan examination
- enquêtean examination of the opinions, information of a group
- onderzoekento inspect; to examine
- rapporterento inspect; to examine
Esperanto esploro, enketo
- esploroan examination
- enketoan examination
- sondoan examination
- sondadoan examination
- sondoan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- opinisondoan examination of the opinions, information of a group
Estonian uurima
- uurimato inspect; to examine
Finnish yleiskatsaus, yleissilmäys
- yleiskatsausact of surveying
- yleissilmäysact of surveying
- tarkastusan examination
- katselmusan examination
- katsausan examination
- kartoitusoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- maanmittausoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- kyselyan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- kyselytutkimusan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- tarkkaillato view as from a high place
- tarkastellato inspect; to examine
- tarkastaato determine the status or value of
- katsastaato determine the status or value of
- määrittääto determine the form or borders of
French arpentage, reconnaissance
- arpentageact of surveying
- reconnaissanceact of surveying
- sondageact of surveying
- enquêtean examination
- reconnaissanceoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- sondagean examination of the opinions, information of a group
- enquêtean examination of the opinions, information of a group
- inspecterto inspect; to examine
- sonderTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
German Untersuchung, Vermessung
- Untersuchungan examination
- Vermessungoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- Umfragean examination of the opinions, information of a group
- überblickento view as from a high place
- untersuchento inspect; to examine
- inspizierento inspect; to examine
- examinierento inspect; to examine
- abschätzento determine the status or value of
- begutachtento determine the status or value of
- evaluierento determine the status or value of
- vermessento determine the form or borders of
- befragenTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
- erfragenTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Greek επιθεώρηση, επισκόπηση
- επιθεώρηση (epitheórisi)an examination
- επισκόπηση (episkópisi)an examination
- τοπογράφηση (topográfisi)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- γεωδαισία (geodaisía)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- δημοσκόπηση (dimoskópisi)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
- σφυγμομέτρηση (sfygmométrisi)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
Hawaiian anamanaʻo, anamanaʻo
- anamanaʻoan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- anamanaʻoTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Hindi सर्वेक्षण, सर्वेक्षण
- सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ)act of surveying
- सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ)an examination
- सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
- सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ)to view as from a high place
- सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ)to inspect; to examine
- समीक्षा (samīkṣā)to inspect; to examine
- समीक्षा (samīkṣā)to determine the status or value of
- सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ)to determine the form or borders of
- समीक्षा (samīkṣā)to determine the form or borders of
- सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ)To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
- समीक्षा (samīkṣā)To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Hungarian felmérés
- felmérésan examination of the opinions, information of a group
Indonesian survei, survei
- surveiact of surveying
- surveioperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
Irish suirbhéireacht, suirbhéireacht
- suirbhéireachtact of surveying
- suirbhéireachtoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- suirbhéan examination of the opinions, information of a group
Italian inchiesta, indagine
- inchiestaact of surveying
- indaginean examination
- ricognizioneoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- sondaggioan examination of the opinions, information of a group
Japanese 調査, 測量
- 調査 (chōsa)an examination
- 測量 (sokuryō)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- 見回す (mimawasu)to view as from a high place
- 見廻す (mimawasu)to view as from a high place
- 見渡す (miwatasu)to view as from a high place
- 見渡す (miwatasu)to inspect; to examine
- 見渡す (miwatasu)to determine the status or value of
Korean 개관, 조사
- 개관 (gaegwan)act of surveying
- 조사 (josa)an examination
- 측량 (cheungnyang)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- 둘러보다 (dulleoboda)to view as from a high place
- 전망하다 (jeonmanghada)to view as from a high place
- 조사하다 (josahada)to inspect; to examine
- 검사하다 (geomsahada)to inspect; to examine
- 조사하다 (josahada)to determine the status or value of
- 검사하다 (geomsahada)to determine the status or value of
- 측량하다 (cheungnyanghada)to determine the form or borders of
Latin aspicio, despecto
- aspicioto view as from a high place
- despectoto view as from a high place
- aspicioto inspect; to examine
- despectoto inspect; to examine
Māori rūritanga, weatanga
- rūritangaact of surveying
- weatangaact of surveying
- tiro whānuito view as from a high place
- mātakito inspect; to examine
- mātakitakito inspect; to examine
- tiroto inspect; to examine
- whakatātareto inspect; to examine
- mātaito inspect; to examine
- rūrito determine the form or borders of
- weato determine the form or borders of
- weaTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Norwegian Bokmål undersøkelse, spørreundersøkelse
- undersøkelsean examination
- spørreundersøkelsean examination of the opinions, information of a group
- spørreundersøkingan examination of the opinions, information of a group
Persian نظرسنجی
- نظرسنجی (nazar-sanji)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
Polish nadzór, ankieta
- nadzóract of surveying
- ankietaact of surveying
- ankietaan examination
- przeglądan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- ankietaan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- sondażan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- ankietowaćTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
- zankietowaćTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
- ankietyzowaćTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Portuguese supervisão, levantamento
- supervisãoact of surveying
- levantamentoan examination
- enquetean examination
- levantamentooperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- levantamento topográficooperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- sondageman examination of the opinions, information of a group
- inspecionarto inspect; to examine
- investigarto inspect; to examine
Russian обзо́р, обозре́ние
- обзо́р (obzór)act of surveying
- обозре́ние (obozrénije)act of surveying
- обсле́дование (obslédovanije)an examination
- осмо́тр (osmótr)an examination
- инспекти́рование (inspektírovanije)an examination
- иссле́дование (isslédovanije)an examination
- топографи́ческая съёмка (topografíčeskaja sʺjómka)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- съёмка (sʺjómka)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- межева́ние (meževánije)operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- опро́с (oprós)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
- обозрева́ть (obozrevátʹ)to view as from a high place
- осма́тривать (osmátrivatʹ)to inspect; to examine
- обсле́довать (obslédovatʹ)to inspect; to examine
- инспекти́ровать (inspektírovatʹ)to inspect; to examine
- обсле́довать (obslédovatʹ)to determine the status or value of
- межева́ть (meževátʹ)to determine the form or borders of
Scottish Gaelic suirbhidh, suirbhidh
- suirbhidhact of surveying
- suirbhidhan examination
- tomhasoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- suirbhidhoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- tomhaisto determine the form or borders of
Spanish encuesta, encuesta
- encuestaact of surveying
- encuestaan examination
- campaña topográficaoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- levantamiento topográficooperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- sondeoan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- atalayarto view as from a high place
- otearto view as from a high place
- otarto view as from a high place
- expertizarto inspect; to examine
- expertizarto determine the status or value of
- encuestarTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Swedish granskning, besiktning
- granskningan examination
- besiktningan examination
- inspektionan examination
- lantmäterioperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
Tagalog siyasig
- siyasigan examination
Turkish anket, inceleme
- anketact of surveying
- incelemean examination
- tetkikan examination
Ukrainian о́гляд, дослі́дження
- о́гляд (óhljad)act of surveying
- дослі́дження (doslídžennja)an examination
- о́гляд (óhljad)an examination
- обсте́ження (obstéžennja)an examination
- опи́тування (opýtuvannja)an examination of the opinions, information of a group
- огляда́ти (ohljadáty)to view as from a high place
- огляда́ти (ohljadáty)to inspect; to examine
- обсте́жувати (obstéžuvaty)to inspect; to examine
- обсте́жувати (obstéžuvaty)to determine the status or value of
Vietnamese sự quan sát, cuộc khảo sát
- sự quan sátact of surveying
- cuộc khảo sátan examination
- cuộc điều traan examination
- cuộc khảo sátoperation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
- cuộc thăm dò ý kiếnan examination of the opinions, information of a group
- quan sátto view as from a high place
- khảo sátto inspect; to examine
- điều trato inspect; to examine
- kiểm trato inspect; to examine
- khảo sátto determine the status or value of
- điều trato determine the status or value of
- kiểm trato determine the status or value of
- khảo sátto determine the form or borders of
- thăm dò ý kiếnTo investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Welsh arolwg
- arolwgan examination
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with survey
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
survey. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/survey
MLA
“survey.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/survey. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “survey,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/survey.
Source: survey on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.