surf

American  

[surf] / sɜrf /

noun

1. the swell of the sea that breaks upon a shore or upon shoals.

2. the mass or line of foamy water caused by the breaking of the sea upon a shore, especially a shallow or sloping shore.

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verb (used without object)

1. to ride a surfboard.

2. to float on the crest of a wave toward shore.

3. to swim, play, or bathe in the surf.

4. to search haphazardly, as for information on a computer network or an interesting program on television.

verb (used with object)

1. to ride a surfboard on.

   We surfed every big wave in sight.

2. to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment.

surf British  

/ sɜːf /

noun

1. waves breaking on the shore or on a reef

2. foam caused by the breaking of waves

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verb

1. (intr) to take part in surfing

2. 1. computing (on the internet) to move freely from website to website (esp in the phrase surf the net )

   2. to move freely between (TV channels or radio stations)

3. 1. informal to be carried on top of something

      that guy's surfing the audience

   2. ( in combination )

      trainsurfing

surf Scientific  

/ sûrf /

1. The waves of the sea as they break upon a shore or a reef.

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Related Words

See wave.

Other Word Forms

• surfable adjective
• surfer noun
• surflike adjective

Etymology

Origin of surf

First recorded in 1600–10; earlier suff; of uncertain origin

Explanation

The surf is what you see when you stand on the beach and look at the ocean — waves rising and breaking on the shore. It’s also what you do when you ride those waves. Surf’s up, dude! Surf means "crashing waves," but it's also a verb meaning to ride those waves with a surf board. When you surf, you stand upright on a board and ride over breaking waves into the shore. A more figurative meaning of surf is "search casually," as in "channel surf," or click idly between TV stations. The origin of the word is a mystery, though it's thought to have first been used in reference to the Indian coast.

Example Sentences

Taking cues from surf rock, 60s pop and sci-fi soundtracks, The B-52s sound is laced with exuberant humour and a love of junk culture.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

San Juan Creek meets the ocean beside the popular surf break at Doheny State Beach.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

Three stores – 59th Street and two in California—will also have a pop-up surf shop.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Sporting swimming trunks and a rash guard shirt, mayor Andrew Little dived face first into the surf as he sought to reassure angry residents that the water was now safe.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

We were sent forward to wade into the surf and greet our transport.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• swell
• wave