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
Michelle Arellano Martin, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
Urban Surf 4 Kids serves children who are homeless or in foster care with resources ranging from mentoring and life-skills development to surf therapy.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
In filing the suit, the city was following the lead of Norma Nazario, who, in 2024, sued TikTok and Meta for the wrongful death of her fifteen-year-old son, Zackery, who died surfing, claiming that algorithms encouraged her son to become addicted to the act.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surf
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Noun
Zarautz Known for having one of the best beaches in Spain, Zarautz is a surf town with waterfront restaurants and a thriving old town.
—Michelle Arellano Martin, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
Urban Surf 4 Kids serves children who are homeless or in foster care with resources ranging from mentoring and life-skills development to surf therapy.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
Wellington, New Zealand AP — There are easier ways to cross an ocean, but few are as slick or stylish as the remora’s whale-surfing joyride.
—CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
In filing the suit, the city was following the lead of Norma Nazario, who, in 2024, sued TikTok and Meta for the wrongful death of her fifteen-year-old son, Zackery, who died surfing, claiming that algorithms encouraged her son to become addicted to the act.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 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 12 Nov. 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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