surmount
Americanverb (used with object)
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to mount upon; get on the top of; mount upon and cross over.
to surmount a hill.
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to get over or across (barriers, obstacles, etc.).
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to prevail over.
to surmount tremendous difficulties.
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to be on top of or above.
a statue surmounting a pillar.
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to furnish with something placed on top or above.
to surmount a tower with a spire.
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Obsolete.
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to surpass in excellence.
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to exceed in amount.
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verb
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to prevail over; overcome
to surmount tremendous difficulties
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to ascend and cross to the opposite side of
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to lie on top of or rise above
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to put something on top of or above
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obsolete to surpass or exceed
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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surmountsimple
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surmountssimple
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have surmountedperfect
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has surmountedperfect
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am surmountingprogressive
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are surmountingprogressive
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is surmountingprogressive
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have been surmountingperfect progressive
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has been surmountingperfect progressive
Past
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surmountedsimple
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had surmountedperfect
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was surmountingprogressive
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were surmountingprogressive
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had been surmountingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of surmount
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French sormonter, surmounter, Old French sor(e)monter, s(o)urmonter; see sur- 1, mount 1
Explanation
If you surmount a challenge or difficult situation, you're not just getting over it. You're outdoing yourself, exceeding expectations, and overcoming the task at hand. This word comes to us from the Old French verb for mount, or climb. Maria sang "climb every mountain..." in The Sound of Music. But she could have just as well meant "surmount every obstacle" — because to surmount means to both reach the highest point of something, like a mountain, and to totally overcome a mountain-size problem.
Vocabulary lists containing surmount
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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This Feb. 29: 15 Words for "Leap"
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On Your Mark, Get Set, Commence Your Life!
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The company’s giant Surmount II facility, a joint venture with France’s Total SA, TOT 2.22 % began production on Sept. 1—nearly five years after it broke ground.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2015
Surmount, sur-mownt′, v.t. to mount above: to surpass: to overcome, get the better of.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
The smoke, like burning incense, towers: So should a praying heart of yours, With ardent cries, Surmount the skies: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.
From Pipe and Pouch The Smoker's Own Book of Poetry by Various
Nay, then with safety we may walk a turn, Though I confess, do what I can, my fears Surmount my Reason and perswades there’s danger.
From The Fatal Jealousie (1673) by Thorp, Willard
What joy beyond expression! couldst thou once Surmount the furious storm of fierce revenge, And yield ye to the charms of love and mercy.
From Tragedy by Thorndike, Ashley H.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
