DictionaryAI

survey

SaySUR-vayUS/ˈsɝˌveɪ//ˈsɜːveɪ/

Pluralsurveys

Verbsurveys, surveying, surveyed

15 meanings of survey

Practice

  1. 1
    research (opinions)nouncountable
    A way of asking many people questions to learn about them or what they think.

    Like asking everyone in your class which game to play and then counting the answers.

    The school did a survey to see which lunch foods students like best.

    More than half the people in the survey wanted a new park near the river.

    UsageSay do a survey or carry out a survey of people.

    Similarpoll, study

  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A list of questions used to learn about people or what they think.

    Like a quiz, but with no wrong answers: it only asks what you think.

    Please fill out this short survey about our service.

    The survey had ten questions about sleep habits.

    UsageYou fill out or take a survey.

    Similarquestionnaire, poll

  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A careful check of a group of things to learn their condition, amount, or quality.

    The city ordered a survey of all its bridges after the flood.

    A survey of the library's books showed that many needed repair.

    Similarinspection, examination, assessment, audit

  4. 4
    USsur-VAY/sɚˈveɪ/UKsuh-VAY/səˈveɪ/
    verbtransitive
    To ask a group of people questions about their opinions or experiences.

    The teacher surveyed the class about their favorite books.

    We will survey our neighbors to see who wants a block party.

    UsageSay survey people about something.

    Similarpoll, canvass, question, interview

  5. 5
    USsur-VAY/sɚˈveɪ/UKsuh-VAY/səˈveɪ/
    chart (land)verbtransitive
    To measure land carefully to find its shape, size, and exact position.

    A team came to survey the field before the new school was built.

    They surveyed the coast and marked the safest places for boats to land.

    Similarmap, chart, measure, plot

    Note
  6. 6
    nouncountable
    The work of measuring land to find its shape, size, and position.

    Like measuring every side of a yard before drawing a map of it.

    Workers finished the survey of the land before building began.

    The survey showed exactly where one farm ends and the next begins.

  7. 7
    USsur-VAY/sɚˈveɪ/UKsuh-VAY/səˈveɪ/
    verbtransitive
    To check something carefully to learn its condition or value.

    An expert came to survey the old house before we bought it.

    Workers surveyed the bridge for cracks after the storm.

    Similarinspect, examine, assess, appraise, value

  8. 8
    USsur-VAY/sɚˈveɪ/UKsuh-VAY/səˈveɪ/
    take inverbtransitive
    To look carefully at all of something, such as a room or a view.

    She surveyed her brother's face, trying to guess his secret.

    She stopped at the door to survey the messy room.

    UsageOften survey the room or survey the view: look at all of it.

    Note
  9. 9
    nouncountable
    A general look at something as a whole.

    He took a quick survey of the crowd, looking for his sister.

    The book opens with a quick survey of the city's history.

    Similaroverview, review, look, scan

    Note
  10. 10
    cover broadlyverbtransitive
    To give a general picture of a whole subject or time, the way a book or class does.

    The first chapter will survey the main ideas of the book.

    This class surveys the history of art from cave paintings to today.

    Similarcover, review, outline

    Note
  11. 11
    nouncountable
    A map and written record made by measuring an area of land.

    The old survey of the farm hangs framed in the hallway.

    According to the survey, the creek marks the edge of our property.

    Similarmap, plan, plat

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of survey apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From an Old French word meaning "to oversee," built from parts meaning "over" and "to see."

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts