surfboard

American  

[surf-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈsɜrfˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

• surfboards
  plural

1. a long, narrow board on which a person stands or lies prone in surfboarding.

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verb (used without object)

1. to ride a surfboard.

surfboard British  

/ ˈsɜːfˌbɔːd /

noun

1. a long narrow board used in surfing

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• surfboards
  plural

Etymology

Origin of surfboard

First recorded in 1820–30; surf + board

Explanation

A surfboard is a long plank that's used for riding on top of ocean waves. The first thing you'll learn about using your new surfboard is how to stand up on it without immediately falling off! To be a surfer, you'll need a surfboard — a buoyant board, often made of fiberglass, used to ride the surf while standing upright — and lots of practice! Modern surfboards are relatively lightweight and aerodynamic, and they have fins on the bottom to help them be more stable in the water. For ancient Hawaiians, surfing held spiritual significance, and the original surfboards were built from solid wood in a solemn ceremony. In Hawaiian, a surfboard is called a papa heʻenalu, or "wave-sliding board."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

surfboard surfboards

In fact, he recalled coming around from a coma in hospital amid a dream that a surfboard came between him and a bright light "like you see in the movies".

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Ustadh said preserving old equipment was also essential, clutching a battered red and blue surfboard that was nearly two decades old.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

An angel in board shorts on a surfboard jumping a great white shark.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026

Hours earlier, an 11-year-old surfer had to be assisted off Sydney's Dee Why Beach after a suspected shark bit his surfboard, with the local council urging swimmers and surfers to be cautious.

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2026

The game board says “Ride the Reading Wave” and has a book on a surfboard.

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist

Kailua’s seaside streets bear the unmistakable look of a Hawaiian beach town, an oasis of palm trees, swimsuits and surfboards.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

From bags and bicycles to surfboards and suitcases, the Japanese second-hand market is booming, with quality-conscious buyers in other Asian countries increasingly tapping into the circular economy trend.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

He warned that the encounter served as "an important reminder" to avoid using paddleboards, surfboards or other silent vessels in areas where whales usually swim.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2025

I believed we’d eventually reunite like in a rom-com: We’d paddle through waves and kiss across our surfboards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2025

An entire van full of kids drove past them, some surfboards sticking out of the back.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway