surf

1 of 2

noun

ˈsərf 

1

: the swell of the sea that breaks upon the shore

2

: the foam, splash, and sound of breaking waves

surf

2 of 2

verb

surfed; surfing; surfs

intransitive verb

1

: to ride the surf (as on a surfboard)

2

: to scan a wide range of offerings for something of interest

transitive verb

: to scan the offerings of (such as television or the Internet) for something of interest

surfer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• foam
• froth
• head
• lather
• spume
• suds

Examples of surf in a Sentence

Noun

We could hear the roar of the surf.

beachgoers romping in the swirling surf

Verb

He learned to surf when he was living in California.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Surfing The chilly waters of the Baltic Sea may not seem like an obvious place to surf, but the Stockholm Archipelago has a few choice spots to ride a wave, including Torö, about 45 miles south of the Swedish capital. —Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2025

For Baja surf, November to February promises powerful swells, while more balanced waves from March to May set it up nicely for beginners and intermediate surfers. —Meagan Drillinger, AFAR Media, 22 Jan. 2025

Verb

Clothing brands are blending Swedish style with rugged sports apparel to create new looks for working out, running, cycling, and even surfing. —Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2025

Also, as previously noted, Moana 2 has surfed past $1B global. —Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1917, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing surf

• crowd surf
• surf and turf
• surf casting
• surf clam

Kids Definition

surf

1 of 2 noun

ˈsərf 

1

: waves that break upon the shore

2

: the foam, splash, and sound of breaking waves

surf

2 of 2 verb

1

: to ride the surf (as on a surfboard)

2

: to scan the offerings of (as television or the Internet) for something of interest