surmount

sur·mount

transitive verb \sər-ˈmau̇nt\

Definition of SURMOUNT

1

obsolete : to surpass in quality or attainment : excel

2

: to prevail over : overcome <surmount an obstacle>

3

: to get to the top of : climb

4

: to stand or lie at the top of

— sur·mount·able \-ˈmau̇n-tə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of SURMOUNT

1. <an Olympic swimmer who surmounted endless obstacles to achieve her goals>

Origin of SURMOUNT

Middle English, from Anglo-French surmunter, from sur- + munter to mount

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SURMOUNT

Synonyms

best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down [British], get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, beat, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst

Antonyms

lose (to)

Related Words

sweep; edge (out), nose out, pip [British]; annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke [slang], snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax [slang], whip; cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed; knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish; ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend

Near Antonyms

fall, give up, go down, go under; collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Rhymes with SURMOUNT

account, amount, blood count, demount, discount, dismount, high-count, point count, recount, remount, seamount, viscount