couch-surf

American  

[kouch-surf] / ˈkaʊtʃˌsɜrf /

Also couch-hop

verb (used without object)

1. to stay overnight in someone’s else’s home while traveling.

   He couch-surfed at the houses of strangers and friends.

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verb (used with object)

1. travel through (a place) or make (one’s way) by staying overnight in other people’s homes.

   She spent a year couch-surfing the country.

Other Word Forms

• couch surfer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of couch-surf

First recorded in 2000–05; couch + surf

Example Sentences

Despite two graduate degrees, I couldn’t find a job; I survived because a few friends allowed me to couch-surf.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2023

These statistics only do so much to explain what it really looks like to turn 18 while you’re still in high school and couch-surf until college to avoid homelessness.

From Slate • May 2, 2018

They prefer to couch-surf with friends and relatives.

From Washington Post • Nov. 10, 2017

We couch-surf in rented beach houses, with green belts as habitat for other creatures that remain.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2016

You really can’t couch-surf and stay healthy with HIV, because you’ve got to take medication, you need a routine, and part of that is having a steady roof over your head.

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2014