surmount
verb
sur·mount
sər-ˈmau̇nt 
surmounted; surmounting; surmounts
1
: to prevail over : overcome
surmount an obstacle
2
: to get to the top of : climb
3
: to stand or lie at the top of
4
obsolete
: to surpass in quality or attainment : excel
Did you know?
Our verb mount, meaning "ascend, get up onto", comes from the same Latin root as mountain, and we keep those images in mind when using surmount, since climbing up or over a mountain is a symbol of achievement. The word almost always refers to human effort, and almost always in a positive way; thus, we speak of surmounting difficulties, surmounting problems, surmounting hurdles, surmounting handicaps—you get the idea.
Synonyms
Examples of surmount in a Sentence
an Olympic swimmer who surmounted endless obstacles to achieve her goals
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s also found ways to clear major technical hurdles that other attempts at this kind of iron refinement have failed to surmount.
—
Alison Van Houten, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
The electoral vote system is enshrined in the Constitution, and changing the law would require a constitutional amendment, a hurdle that's been too high to surmount.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 26 Sep. 2024
The 5400 support level in the S & P 500 is noteworthy, too, for when it was first surmounted: June 12, the day of a softer-than-expected May CPI report, which first sent market pricing of a Fed rate cut by September 18 above 70%.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2024
Activists also helped surmount Bolsonaro’s effort to prevent Brazil from acquiring COVID-19 shots.
—Benjamin H. Bradlow, Foreign Affairs, 12 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for surmount 
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illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Alison Van Houten, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
The electoral vote system is enshrined in the Constitution, and changing the law would require a constitutional amendment, a hurdle that's been too high to surmount.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 26 Sep. 2024
The 5400 support level in the S & P 500 is noteworthy, too, for when it was first surmounted: June 12, the day of a softer-than-expected May CPI report, which first sent market pricing of a Fed rate cut by September 18 above 70%.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2024
Activists also helped surmount Bolsonaro’s effort to prevent Brazil from acquiring COVID-19 shots.
—Benjamin H. Bradlow, Foreign Affairs, 12 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for surmount
Dictionary Entries Near surmount
Cite this Entry
“Surmount.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surmount. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
surmount
verb
sur·mount
sər-ˈmau̇nt
1
: overcome sense 1
surmount an obstacle
2
: to get to the top of : climb
3
: to stand or lie at the top of : crown
a weather vane surmounts the roof
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