Standard Lemma guide

survey

noun · verb · 23 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈsɜːveɪ/
  • UK: /sɜːˈveɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: sûrʹvā
  • US: sər-vāʹ
  • US: /ˈsɝˌveɪ/
  • US: /sɚˈveɪ/
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)veɪ
  • UK: /səˈveɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: sûr′vā
  • rhymes with -eɪ
  • CMU ARPABET: S ER0 V EY1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: S ER1 V EY2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of surveying; a general view.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of a particular group of items, in order to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A survey of the stores of a ship; a survey of roads and bridges; a survey of buildings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of any part of the Earth's surface.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A measured plan and description of any portion of country.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The owners of the adjoining plots had conflicting surveys.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

An examination of the opinions and/or information of a group of people.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The local council conducted a survey of its residents to help it decide whether to go ahead with the roadside waste collection service.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A questionnaire or similar instrument used for examining the opinions and/or information of a group of people.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I just filled out that survey on roadside waste pick-up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

An auction at which a farm is let for a lease for lives.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A district for the collection of customs under a particular officer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He stood on a hill, and surveyed the surrounding country.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • It was his job to survey buildings in order to determine their value and risks.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • to survey land or a coast

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To investigate the opinions, experiences, etc., of people by asking them questions; to conduct a survey; to administer a questionnaire.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: circularize

Antonyms: none provided

15

noun

Meaning 15

a detailed critical inspection

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: study

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: examination, scrutiny

Narrower terms: resurvey

16

noun

Meaning 16

the act of looking or seeing or observing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he tried to get a better view of it
  • his survey of the battlefield was limited

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: view, sight

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: look, looking, looking at

Narrower terms: eyeful

17

noun

Meaning 17

short descriptive summary (of events)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sketch, resume

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: summary, sum-up

18

verb

Meaning 18

consider in a comprehensive way

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He appraised the situation carefully before acting

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: appraise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: analyze, analyse, study, examine, canvass, canvas

19

verb

Meaning 19

plot a map of (land)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: calculate, cipher, cypher, compute, work out, reckon, figure

Narrower terms: triangulate

20

verb

Meaning 20

make a survey of; for statistical purposes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: analyze, analyse, study, examine, canvass, canvas

Narrower terms: poll, canvass, canvas

21

verb

Meaning 21

hold a review (of troops)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: review, go over

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inspect

22

verb

Meaning 22

look over carefully or inspect

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He surveyed his new classmates

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: examine, see

Narrower terms: overlook

23

verb

Meaning 23

keep under surveillance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: surveil, follow

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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.

Across languages

Translations

246 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: اِسْتِبَانَة (istibāna) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Armenian: հարցում (harcʻum) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Belarusian: апыта́нне (apytánnje) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Bulgarian: допитване (dopitvane) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Bulgarian: анкета (anketa) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Catalan: enquesta — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Chinese Mandarin: 民意測驗 /民意测验 (mínyì cèyàn) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Czech: anketa — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Czech: dotazník — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Danish: spørgeundersøgelse — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Dutch: enquête — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Esperanto: sondo — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Esperanto: opinisondo — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Finnish: kysely — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Finnish: kyselytutkimus — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • French: sondage — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • French: enquête — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • German: Umfrage — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Greek: δημοσκόπηση (dimoskópisi) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Greek: σφυγμομέτρηση (sfygmométrisi) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Hawaiian: anamanaʻo — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Hindi: सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Hungarian: felmérés — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Irish: suirbhé — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Italian: sondaggio — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Macedonian: анкета (anketa) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Norwegian Bokmål: spørreundersøkelse — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Norwegian Bokmål: spørreundersøking — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: spørjeundersøking — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Polish: przegląd — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Polish: ankieta — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Polish: sondaż — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Portuguese: sondagem — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Russian: опро́с (oprós) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Serbo-Croatian: anketa — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Spanish: sondeo — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Ukrainian: опи́тування (opýtuvannja) — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Vietnamese: cuộc thăm dò ý kiến — an examination of the opinions, information of a group
  • Bulgarian: преглед (pregled) — act of surveying
  • Bulgarian: обзор (obzor) — act of surveying
  • Catalan: enquestar — act of surveying
  • Czech: zaměření — act of surveying
  • Finnish: yleiskatsaus — act of surveying
  • Finnish: yleissilmäys — act of surveying
  • French: arpentage — act of surveying
  • French: reconnaissance — act of surveying
  • French: sondage — act of surveying
  • Georgian: გამოკითხვა (gamoḳitxva) — act of surveying
  • Georgian: ანკეტირება (anḳeṭireba) — act of surveying
  • Georgian: გამოკვლევა (gamoḳvleva) — act of surveying
  • Higaonon: subayan — act of surveying
  • Hindi: सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ) — act of surveying
  • Indonesian: survei — act of surveying
  • Irish: suirbhéireacht — act of surveying
  • Italian: inchiesta — act of surveying
  • Korean: 개관 (gaegwan) — act of surveying
  • Māori: rūritanga — act of surveying
  • Māori: weatanga — act of surveying
  • Polish: nadzór — act of surveying
  • Polish: ankieta — act of surveying
  • Portuguese: supervisão — act of surveying
  • Russian: обзо́р (obzór) — act of surveying
  • Russian: обозре́ние (obozrénije) — act of surveying
  • Scottish Gaelic: suirbhidh — act of surveying
  • Serbo-Croatian: земљомерство — act of surveying
  • Serbo-Croatian: zemljomerstvo — act of surveying
  • Spanish: encuesta — act of surveying
  • Turkish: anket — act of surveying
  • Ukrainian: о́гляд (óhljad) — act of surveying
  • Vietnamese: sự quan sát — act of surveying
  • Bulgarian: изследване (izsledvane) — an examination
  • Chinese Mandarin: 查勘 (chákān) — an examination
  • Chinese Mandarin: 調查 /调查 (diàochá) — an examination
  • Czech: zjištění — an examination
  • Czech: průzkum — an examination
  • Czech: inspekce — an examination
  • Dutch: enquête — an examination
  • Dutch: inspectie — an examination
  • Dutch: onderzoek — an examination
  • Dutch: rapport — an examination
  • Esperanto: esploro — an examination
  • Esperanto: enketo — an examination
  • Esperanto: sondo — an examination
  • Esperanto: sondado — an examination
  • Finnish: tarkastus — an examination
  • Finnish: katselmus — an examination
  • Finnish: katsaus — an examination
  • French: enquête — an examination
  • Georgian: დათვალიერება (datvaliereba) — an examination
  • Georgian: გამოკვლევა (gamoḳvleva) — an examination
  • Georgian: მიმოხილვა (mimoxilva) — an examination
  • Georgian: გასინჯვა (gasinǯva) — an examination
  • Georgian: შემოწმება (šemoc̣meba) — an examination
  • Georgian: დაკვირვება (daḳvirveba) — an examination
  • Georgian: ინსპექტირება (insṗekṭireba) — an examination
  • German: Untersuchung — an examination
  • Greek: επιθεώρηση (epitheórisi) — an examination
  • Greek: επισκόπηση (episkópisi) — an examination
  • Hindi: सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ) — an examination
  • Italian: indagine — an examination
  • Japanese: 調査 (chōsa) — an examination
  • Korean: 조사 (josa) — an examination
  • Norwegian Bokmål: undersøkelse — an examination
  • Polish: ankieta — an examination
  • Portuguese: levantamento — an examination
  • Portuguese: enquete — an examination
  • Russian: обсле́дование (obslédovanije) — an examination
  • Russian: осмо́тр (osmótr) — an examination
  • Russian: инспекти́рование (inspektírovanije) — an examination
  • Russian: иссле́дование (isslédovanije) — an examination
  • Scottish Gaelic: suirbhidh — an examination
  • Serbo-Croatian: pregled — an examination
  • Serbo-Croatian: istraživanje — an examination
  • Spanish: supervisión — an examination
  • Spanish: encuesta — an examination
  • Swedish: granskning — an examination
  • Swedish: besiktning — an examination
  • Swedish: inspektion — an examination
  • Tagalog: siyasig — an examination
  • Turkish: inceleme — an examination
  • Turkish: tetkik — an examination
  • Ukrainian: дослі́дження (doslídžennja) — an examination
  • Ukrainian: о́гляд (óhljad) — an examination
  • Ukrainian: обсте́ження (obstéžennja) — an examination
  • Vietnamese: cuộc khảo sát — an examination
  • Vietnamese: cuộc điều tra — an examination
  • Welsh: arolwg — an examination
  • Bulgarian: топографско заснемане (topografsko zasnemane) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Chinese Mandarin: 測量 /测量 (cèliáng) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Finnish: kartoitus — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Finnish: maanmittaus — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • French: reconnaissance — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • German: Vermessung — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Greek: τοπογράφηση (topográfisi) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Greek: γεωδαισία (geodaisía) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Hindi: सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Indonesian: survei — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Irish: suirbhéireacht — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Italian: ricognizione — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Japanese: 測量 (sokuryō) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Korean: 측량 (cheungnyang) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Portuguese: levantamento — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Portuguese: levantamento topográfico — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Russian: топографи́ческая съёмка (topografíčeskaja sʺjómka) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Russian: съёмка (sʺjómka) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Russian: межева́ние (meževánije) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Scottish Gaelic: tomhas — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Scottish Gaelic: suirbhidh — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Spanish: campaña topográfica — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Spanish: levantamiento topográfico — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Ottoman Turkish: مساحه (mesaha) — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Vietnamese: cuộc khảo sát — operation of finding the contour, dimensions or position as any part of the Earth's surface
  • Finnish: tarkkailla — to view as from a high place
  • German: überblicken — to view as from a high place
  • Hindi: सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ) — to view as from a high place
  • Japanese: 見回す (mimawasu) — to view as from a high place
  • Japanese: 見廻す (mimawasu) — to view as from a high place
  • Japanese: 見渡す (miwatasu) — to view as from a high place
  • Korean: 둘러보다 (dulleoboda) — to view as from a high place
  • Korean: 전망하다 (jeonmanghada) — to view as from a high place
  • Latin: aspicio — to view as from a high place
  • Latin: despecto — to view as from a high place
  • Māori: tiro whānui — to view as from a high place
  • Russian: обозрева́ть (obozrevátʹ) — to view as from a high place
  • Spanish: reconocer — to view as from a high place
  • Spanish: atalayar — to view as from a high place
  • Spanish: otear — to view as from a high place
  • Spanish: otar — to view as from a high place
  • Ukrainian: огляда́ти (ohljadáty) — to view as from a high place
  • Vietnamese: quan sát — to view as from a high place
  • Bulgarian: изследвам (izsledvam) — to inspect; to examine
  • Bulgarian: инспектирам (inspektiram) — to inspect; to examine
  • Dutch: onderzoeken — to inspect; to examine
  • Dutch: rapporteren — to inspect; to examine
  • Estonian: uurima — to inspect; to examine
  • Finnish: tarkastella — to inspect; to examine
  • French: inspecter — to inspect; to examine
  • German: untersuchen — to inspect; to examine
  • German: inspizieren — to inspect; to examine
  • German: examinieren — to inspect; to examine
  • Hindi: सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ) — to inspect; to examine
  • Hindi: समीक्षा (samīkṣā) — to inspect; to examine
  • Japanese: 見渡す (miwatasu) — to inspect; to examine
  • Korean: 조사하다 (josahada) — to inspect; to examine
  • Korean: 검사하다 (geomsahada) — to inspect; to examine
  • Latin: aspicio — to inspect; to examine
  • Latin: despecto — to inspect; to examine
  • Māori: mātaki — to inspect; to examine
  • Māori: mātakitaki — to inspect; to examine
  • Māori: tiro — to inspect; to examine
  • Māori: whakatātare — to inspect; to examine
  • Māori: mātai — to inspect; to examine
  • Portuguese: inspecionar — to inspect; to examine
  • Portuguese: investigar — to inspect; to examine
  • Russian: осма́тривать (osmátrivatʹ) — to inspect; to examine
  • Russian: обсле́довать (obslédovatʹ) — to inspect; to examine
  • Russian: инспекти́ровать (inspektírovatʹ) — to inspect; to examine
  • Spanish: inspeccionar — to inspect; to examine
  • Spanish: expertizar — to inspect; to examine
  • Ottoman Turkish: سوزمك (süzmek) — to inspect; to examine
  • Ukrainian: огляда́ти (ohljadáty) — to inspect; to examine
  • Ukrainian: обсте́жувати (obstéžuvaty) — to inspect; to examine
  • Vietnamese: khảo sát — to inspect; to examine
  • Vietnamese: điều tra — to inspect; to examine
  • Vietnamese: kiểm tra — to inspect; to examine
  • Finnish: tarkastaa — to determine the status or value of
  • Finnish: katsastaa — to determine the status or value of
  • German: abschätzen — to determine the status or value of
  • German: begutachten — to determine the status or value of
  • German: evaluieren — to determine the status or value of
  • Hindi: समीक्षा (samīkṣā) — to determine the status or value of
  • Japanese: 見渡す (miwatasu) — to determine the status or value of
  • Korean: 조사하다 (josahada) — to determine the status or value of
  • Korean: 검사하다 (geomsahada) — to determine the status or value of
  • Russian: обсле́довать (obslédovatʹ) — to determine the status or value of
  • Spanish: valorar — to determine the status or value of
  • Spanish: avaluar — to determine the status or value of
  • Spanish: expertizar — to determine the status or value of
  • Ukrainian: обсте́жувати (obstéžuvaty) — to determine the status or value of
  • Vietnamese: khảo sát — to determine the status or value of
  • Vietnamese: điều tra — to determine the status or value of
  • Vietnamese: kiểm tra — to determine the status or value of
  • Finnish: määrittää — to determine the form or borders of
  • German: vermessen — to determine the form or borders of
  • Hindi: सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ) — to determine the form or borders of
  • Hindi: समीक्षा (samīkṣā) — to determine the form or borders of
  • Korean: 측량하다 (cheungnyanghada) — to determine the form or borders of
  • Māori: rūri — to determine the form or borders of
  • Māori: wea — to determine the form or borders of
  • Russian: межева́ть (meževátʹ) — to determine the form or borders of
  • Scottish Gaelic: tomhais — to determine the form or borders of
  • Vietnamese: khảo sát — to determine the form or borders of
  • Bulgarian: анкетирам (anketiram) — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Catalan: enquestar — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • French: sonder — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • German: befragen — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • German: erfragen — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Hawaiian: anamanaʻo — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Hindi: सर्वेक्षण (sarvekṣaṇ) — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Hindi: समीक्षा (samīkṣā) — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Māori: wea — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Polish: ankietować — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Polish: zankietować — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Polish: ankietyzować — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Spanish: encuestar — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
  • Vietnamese: thăm dò ý kiến — To investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking questions
Real reading context

survey in complete knowledge articles