surf

1 of 2

noun

ˈsərf How to pronounce surf (audio)
Synonyms of surfnext
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 of surf

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026 El Niño is a natural climate pattern associated with intense rainfall and storms in the Southeast and warm conditions in the Pacific Northwest that can cause strong, dangerous surf. — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
For now, its Muse assistants are actively helping people complete tasks on their computers quicker, such as responding to emails, booking flights, and surfing the web on their behalf. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 An Australian surfer came face-to-face with a shark last month while surfing alone at Glenfield Beach on the coast of Western Australia. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surf

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of surf was in 1685

Phrases Containing surf

Rhymes for surf

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Browse Nearby Words

surexcitation
surf
surfable
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Cite this Entry

“Surf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surf. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

surf

1 of 2 noun
ˈsərf How to pronounce surf (audio)
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
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