surmount

[ ser-mount ]

verb (used with object)

1. to mount upon; get on the top of; mount upon and cross over:

   to surmount a hill.

2. to get over or across (barriers, obstacles, etc.).
3. to prevail over:

   to surmount tremendous difficulties.

4. to be on top of or above:

   a statue surmounting a pillar.

5. to furnish with something placed on top or above:

   to surmount a tower with a spire.

6. Obsolete.
   1. to surpass in excellence.
   2. to exceed in amount.

surmount

/ sɜːˈmaʊnt /

verb

1. to prevail over; overcome

   to surmount tremendous difficulties

2. to ascend and cross to the opposite side of
3. to lie on top of or rise above
4. to put something on top of or above
5. obsolete.
   to surpass or exceed

Derived Forms

• surˈmounter, noun
• surˈmountable, adjective
• surˈmountableness, noun

Other Words From

• sur·mount·a·ble [ser-, moun, -t, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• sur·mount·er noun
• un·sur·mount·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surmount¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French sormonter, surmounter, Old French sor(e)monter, s(o)urmonter; sur- ¹, mount ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of surmount¹

C14: from Old French surmonter, from sur- ¹+ monter to mount ¹

Example Sentences

The good news is that every state seems to have surmounted the wave and new cases are now generally on the decline.

From Popular-Science

For Bullock in Gravity, all those miles above Earth, reconnecting with home means surmounting the death of a daughter.

From Nautilus

As a consequence, Nina is placed in an impossible position, but one she is determined to surmount.

From Washington Blade

Formulaic action scenes became riotous steeplechases as Zorro surmounted obstacles with somersaults and handsprings, sometimes pausing for a snack.

From Washington Post

Now he’s seeking his fourth ring, inching closer to Michael Jordan’s six — which, no matter how much he downplays it, is a hill he’s still trying to surmount.

From Ozy

And that is why, as veterans, the onus is on us to surmount it and bridge the divide.

From The Daily Beast

His fiery enthusiasm swept aside all difficulties; his inventive genius ever showed him the way to surmount all obstacles.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the personality of their general which had taught the French soldiers to surmount all difficulties.

From Project Gutenberg

The true spirit of success is not to look at obstacles, but to keep the eye on the many ways in which to surmount them.

From Project Gutenberg

They are daunted by nothing they surmount walls and hedges, and enter enclosed gardens or inhabited houses.

From Project Gutenberg

My mind was staggered with a view of the difficulties I had to surmount and the little interest I possessed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conquer