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
Sierra Knoch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
See the water from above by hanging ten with a surf lesson from Hot Wax Surf Shop or testing your balance on a stand-up paddle board.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 June 2025
Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Soon after, Martin Potter won the world surfing championship for England.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for surf
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Noun
Pacific Beach, long celebrated for its sun, surf, eating and drinking scene, could be embracing a new identity as a cultural destination.
—Sierra Knoch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
See the water from above by hanging ten with a surf lesson from Hot Wax Surf Shop or testing your balance on a stand-up paddle board.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 June 2025
Verb
He couch surfed for a while, briefly joined a cult on a ranch, then moved in with a group that lived in a geodesic dome in the mountains.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Soon after, Martin Potter won the world surfing championship for England.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 21 May 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 5 Jun. 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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