surmount
verb
sur·mount
sər-ˈmau̇nt 
surmounted; surmounting; surmounts
1
: to prevail over : overcome
surmount an obstacle
2
: to get to the top of : climb
3
: to stand or lie at the top of
4
obsolete
: to surpass in quality or attainment : excel
Did you know?
Our verb mount, meaning "ascend, get up onto", comes from the same Latin root as mountain, and we keep those images in mind when using surmount, since climbing up or over a mountain is a symbol of achievement. The word almost always refers to human effort, and almost always in a positive way; thus, we speak of surmounting difficulties, surmounting problems, surmounting hurdles, surmounting handicaps—you get the idea.
Examples of surmount in a Sentence
an Olympic swimmer who surmounted endless obstacles to achieve her goals
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlotte struggled to surmount her anger and bitterness toward her once-dear sibling.
—
Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Workers mixed mortar and drove a scissor lift to the edge of a concrete plinth surmounted by four steel rods—supports for the Buddha, whose sandstone body would slide down them in four parts, like beads in an abacus.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The brand also collaborated with Horny Hi-Fi on a custom hi-fi system consisting of wooden loudspeakers surmounted by a second amplifier in sandblasted chrome.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
After being out-skated early, the Ducks settled into their skates, surmounting both shot and goal to deficits to run the shot count to 24-17 and even the score, 2-2, through 40 minutes.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surmount
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Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Workers mixed mortar and drove a scissor lift to the edge of a concrete plinth surmounted by four steel rods—supports for the Buddha, whose sandstone body would slide down them in four parts, like beads in an abacus.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The brand also collaborated with Horny Hi-Fi on a custom hi-fi system consisting of wooden loudspeakers surmounted by a second amplifier in sandblasted chrome.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
After being out-skated early, the Ducks settled into their skates, surmounting both shot and goal to deficits to run the shot count to 24-17 and even the score, 2-2, through 40 minutes.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surmount
Cite this Entry
“Surmount.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surmount. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
surmount
verb
sur·mount
sər-ˈmau̇nt
1
: overcome sense 1
surmount an obstacle
2
: to get to the top of : climb
3
: to stand or lie at the top of : crown
a weather vane surmounts the roof
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