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 of surf

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

Sugar has won 19 surf titles overall in her career. —Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

For the most peaceful stretch, head to Opal Beach in Gulf Islands National Seashore, where the shoreline remains undeveloped, and the loudest sound is usually the surf. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026

Verb

Van Dyke was considered a pioneer of surfing in Northern California and the incident left many in the surfing community reeling. —Jen Murphy, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026

Sugar’s place in the Surfers’ Hall of Fame was cemented in 2024 when the dog’s paws were pressed into the sidewalk in front of the statue of Duke Kahanamoku in Huntington Beach, alongside prints from other surfing legends including world champs Kelly Slater and Andy Irons. —Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

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