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
• 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

Dangerous surf and rip currents were also possible on the Bahamas, Bermuda and Atlantic Canada during the next few days, the hurricane center said. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2024

No high-rises, no umbrellas, no people—just sand, surf, and the horizon. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2024

Verb

Plus, Okazaki has been surfing here since the 1950s, so not many people know the wave better. —Brent Rose, Outside Online, 29 Aug. 2024

Phil Asselin, 55, a Gulf Coast native, has been surfing the area around Panama City Beach for decades and runs a private Facebook surfing group, Emerald Coast Surfers. —Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2024

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

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