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

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

However, there can be an increase in rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast beaches next weekend into early the following week. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025

Video footage shows the vessel, a passenger boat known as The Discovery, appearing to surf on a wave. —Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Verb

When Conrad goes surfing, he gets cut by a fin and bleeds in their beach house. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 13 Aug. 2025

The address sits mid-stride on The Strand—Los Angeles County’s 22-mile ribbon of beach-hugging pavement—and places Hermosa’s pier, volleyball courts and surfing swell just beyond the gate. —Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 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

Rhymes for surf

• scurf
• serf
• turf

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