surf

noun

\ ˈsərf

Definition of surf

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the swell of the sea that breaks upon the shore

2 : the foam, splash, and sound of breaking waves

surf

verb

surfed; surfing; surfs

Definition of surf (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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Synonyms for surf

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

Goose Rocks Beach, with its white sand and mellow surf for paddleboarding, is just a mile away, or ride a section of the 65-mile Eastern Trail, a bike path that passes through coastal Kennebunkport. — Megan Michelson, Outside Online, "10 Amazing Glamping Spots in North America," 6 June 2019 Surf and yoga classes are held daily, and the ratio of students to surf coach is never more than 3 to 1. — Margot Dougherty, WSJ, "Luxury Learning Vacations: Bring Back More Than a Tan," 1 May 2019 Over the past three years, Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) has hosted five Junior Seau adaptive surf camps each year. — Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Elite adaptive surfers offer an ocean of possibilities," 29 June 2018 The development was halted, the river was protected and the surf break was preserved. — Author: David Gelles, Anchorage Daily News, "Patagonia v. Trump: Inside a battle over public lands," 6 May 2018 Attend surf camp along Nicaragua's Emerald Coast Getty Images 11. — Marie Claire, "20 Adventures To Have In Your Lifetime," 13 Aug. 2014 Galveston Need a quick getaway to enjoy seafood, sun, and surf? — Condé Nast Traveler, "3 Best Day Trips from Houston," 12 Oct. 2018 Classic workwear brand Carhartt with the standout surf brand, Hurley. — James Lynch, Popular Mechanics, "Hurley and Carhartt Created Stylish Workwear We Didn't Know We Wanted," 9 Feb. 2019 The left break here is beginner friendly, and there are several surf schools right on the beach. — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, "Finding the Bali You Came For," 16 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Today most internet-connected cars with modems use 4G broadband technology, which has enabled Wi-Fi hot spots and streaming services, allowing passengers to surf the Web and listen to their favorite music on demand. — Chester Dawson, WSJ, "How 5G Paves the Way for the Driverless Car," 12 Sep. 2018 Then, this April, I was attacked by a tiger shark while surfing off the coast of Shipwreck Beach in Keoniloa Bay, on the south shore of Kauai, Hawaii. — Patty Hodapp, Outside Online, "The Man Who Survived a Rattler, Bear, and Shark Attack," 10 July 2018 Nine blue Casamigos surfboards fan out on a wall, a metaphor for the company that made George Clooney and Rande Gerber even wealthier, surfing on a sea of tequila. — Mark Seal, WSJ, "The Tequila Gold Rush," 19 June 2018 Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa broke the record for the biggest wave ever surfed on Saturday, as judges at the World Surf League's Big Wave Awards in Santa Monica said that the wave Koxa surfed at Nazare, Portugal in November was 80 feet high. — Nihal Kolur, SI.com, "Watch: Rodrigo Koxa Sets World Record for Biggest Wave Ever Surfed," 30 Apr. 2018 In general, board sports, like surfing and skateboarding, translate well to snowboarding, says Marino. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "6 Tips for Beginner Snowboarders From Olympian Julia Marino," 22 Jan. 2019 According to the indictment, a bankruptcy judge grew suspicious of Miller’s claim to be cash-strapped after surfing through television and seeing some of the related shows, Reuters reported. — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE.com, "From Dance Moms to 8 Months in Prison: Abby Lee Miller's Ups and Downs," 28 Mar. 2018 Alan Bernholtz grew up in the San Fernando Valley and surfed off Malibu. — latimes.com, "Iceland’s remote Deplar Farm delights heli-skiers and adventurers," 21 Jan. 2018 Important things -- like napping, surfing Facebook, and playing Just Dance with my children. — Joslyn Gray, Redbook, "Don't Judge Me Because...My House Is a Mess," 30 Nov. 2011

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'surf.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.