1 survey | Definition of survey

survey

verb
sur·​vey | \ sər-ˈvā How to pronounce survey (audio) , ˈsər-ˌvā\
surveyed; surveying

Definition of survey

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to examine as to condition, situation, or value : appraise
b : to query (someone) in order to collect data for the analysis of some aspect of a group or area
2 : to determine and delineate the form, extent, and position of (such as a tract of land) by taking linear and angular measurements and by applying the principles of geometry and trigonometry
3 : to view or consider comprehensively
4 : inspect, scrutinize he surveyed us in a lordly way— Alan Harrington

intransitive verb

: to make a survey

survey

noun
sur·​vey | \ ˈsər-ˌvā How to pronounce survey (audio) , sər-ˈvā\
plural surveys

Definition of survey (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act or an instance of surveying: such as
a : a broad treatment of a subject
2 : something that is surveyed

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Examples of survey in a Sentence

Verb

A total of 250 city residents were surveyed about the project. 64 percent of the people surveyed said that the economy was doing well. The teacher surveyed the room. People were surveying the damage after the storm. Engineers surveyed the property to see what could be built on it.

Noun

The survey found some surprising tendencies among the population. We conducted an opinion survey on the issue and found that most people agree. a survey on American drinking habits Surveys of each department were conducted earlier this year. A survey of recent corporate layoffs reveals a new trend in business management. A new land survey changed the borders of their property.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The storm also gave coastal South Carolina a beating, and Charleston was starting to survey the damage Friday morning. CBS News, "Hurricane Dorian makes landfall over Cape Hatteras, North Carolina," 6 Sep. 2019 According to survey data collected by the Institute of International Education during the 2016–17 school year, enrollment of these students fell by 3 percent from the previous year. Alia Wong, The Atlantic, "Immigration Law Is Burdening International Students—And Their Colleges," 6 Sep. 2019 The Coast Guard also provided a helicopter for Prime Minister Minnis to survey the aftermath of the storm. Tara Law, Time, "Here's What It's Like in the Bahamas After It Was Devastated by Hurricane Dorian," 5 Sep. 2019 Before tourist traffic had begun its march toward full congestion levels, Carrie Staples was taking a quiet moment Friday morning to survey the beach from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Jessica York, The Mercury News, "Santa Cruz tourist hot spot shared with city’s homeless campers," 2 Sep. 2019 Part 3 features an emerging technology that is enabling researchers to survey fish populations using a small sample of water. Rebecca Asoulin, The Christian Science Monitor, "Wait, fish make noise? Meet the ‘fish listeners.’ (audio)," 29 Aug. 2019 Drones have also been used to survey stagnant water in order to identify malarial mosquito breeding sites. Fox News, "Drones increasingly used in Africa to save people's lives, deliver blood samples to labs," 21 Aug. 2019 Myrna Herrera Sosa, who heads the Laboratory for the Identification and Description of Wood at Guatemala’s San Carlos University, in Guatemala City, leads the effort to survey the country’s remaining rosewood stock. Carlos Duarte, National Geographic, "The fight to protect the world’s most trafficked wild commodity," 16 Aug. 2019 The district engaged the consulting firm True North to survey likely voters about support for a school bond measure that could be placed on the ballot next year, either during the March primary election or the November presidential election. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Will Escondido voters foot the bill for school improvements?," 16 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Earlier on Wednesday, a survey by a prominent American business association showed the trade dispute was souring the profit and investment outlook for U.S. companies operating in the world's second-biggest economy. NBC News, "Trump delays tariff hike on some Chinese goods by two weeks," 12 Sep. 2019 Mr Lieberman’s gambit proved popular; surveys show his small party doubling in size since April. The Economist, "Will Binyamin Netanyahu’s vow to annex part of the West Bank work?," 11 Sep. 2019 The survey by the Institute of Supply Management showed that factory production fell last month. Washington Post, "Union Pacific railroad trims volume outlook for rest of 2019," 7 Sep. 2019 This despite the fact that surveys show most Americans want solutions in the middle. The Christian Science Monitor, "Africa rises for immigrant rights," 6 Sep. 2019 However, the August survey of 1,153 farmers shows that only 71% of them supported his work and only 43% strongly approved, which was a 10% drop from July. Doug Friednash, The Denver Post, "Friednash: Does the “Chosen One” really think we are winning the trade war?," 4 Sep. 2019 The survey also shows Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont edging out the president 48 percent to 44 percent and Trump tied in potential showdowns with Sens. Fox News, "Trump trailing Biden in crucial 2020 battleground of Wisconsin: poll," 4 Sep. 2019 The pessimistic HNIs are also becoming conservative in their investment options, the survey showed. Sangeeta Tanwar, Quartz India, "Many ultra-rich Indians are becoming jittery about their wealth," 30 Aug. 2019 Merrill said the survey showed a favorable trend for his campaign. Mike Cason, al, "Tuberville releases survey showing double-digit lead in Senate race," 21 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'survey.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of survey

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for survey

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French surveer, to look over, from sur- + veer to see — more at view

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More Definitions for survey

survey

verb

English Language Learners Definition of survey

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: to ask (many people) a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something
: to look at and examine all parts of (something)
: to measure and examine (an area of land)

survey

noun
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