1
: the swell of the sea that breaks upon the shore
2
: the foam, splash, and sound of breaking waves
surfed; surfing; surfs
1
: to ride the surf (as on a surfboard)
2
: to scan a wide range of offerings for something of interest
: to scan the offerings of (such as television or the Internet) for something of interest
surfer
noun
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
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
In the sweet photo, Moore (wearing a Left on Friday two-piece swimsuit) could be seen sitting in the surf alongside her husband while her son Ozzie hung on around her neck.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Trump’s staff – surfing a wave of hubris from the past weekend – risk being a little at sea with Ukraine.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surf
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Noun
Malibu Surfrider Beach Immortalized by the 1959 surf flick Gidget, Surfrider Beach is nothing short of legendary.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
In the sweet photo, Moore (wearing a Left on Friday two-piece swimsuit) could be seen sitting in the surf alongside her husband while her son Ozzie hung on around her neck.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
Other activities include surfing excursions, where serious wave riders can visit multiple breaks, or a Robinson Crusoe Experience, during which guests head out on a boat to catch their lunch, which is then barbecued and served with prosecco on a nearby deserted beach.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Trump’s staff – surfing a wave of hubris from the past weekend – risk being a little at sea with Ukraine.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surf
Cite this Entry
“Surf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surf. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
surf
1 of 2 noun1
: waves that break upon the shore
2
: the foam, splash, and sound of breaking waves
surf
2 of 2 verb1
: to ride the surf (as on a surfboard)
2
: to scan the offerings of (as television or the Internet) for something of interest
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