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 3

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

surfer

3 of 3

noun (2)

surf·​er
ˈsərfər
plural -s
1
dialectal : surf scoter
2
: one who rides a surfboard
3
: one who scans a wide range of offerings (as on television or the Internet) for something of interest
she was also a constant surfer of all things onlineGarry Wills

Synonyms of surf

Examples of surf in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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
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Noun
Before its release, a promoter changed their name to The Beach Boys to better market the surf theme. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 30 June 2026 Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
My friend’s kids are surfing now. Mike Albo, Curbed, 23 June 2026 His father wondered if there was any money to be made in surfing. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for surf

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

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Cite this Entry

“Surf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surf. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

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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