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
This was a story about someone who had identified an obstacle and, through dogged accounting, surmounted it.
—
Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
The Quad’s ability to surmount these limitations is critical, in part because the group’s durability hinges on its ability to deliver on its promises.
—Dhruva Jaishankar, Foreign Affairs, 19 May 2022
In the coming world, machine intelligences navigating conflict and negotiating peace might help clarify, or even surmount, traditional dilemmas.
—Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
It should be noted that there are of course, costs and some challenges to be surmounted as far as enabling remote work is concerned, especially if this has not been the norm for some companies previously.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surmount 
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Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
The Quad’s ability to surmount these limitations is critical, in part because the group’s durability hinges on its ability to deliver on its promises.
—Dhruva Jaishankar, Foreign Affairs, 19 May 2022
In the coming world, machine intelligences navigating conflict and negotiating peace might help clarify, or even surmount, traditional dilemmas.
—Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
It should be noted that there are of course, costs and some challenges to be surmounted as far as enabling remote work is concerned, especially if this has not been the norm for some companies previously.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
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 22 Dec. 2024.
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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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