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

“Have we been knocked off our metaphorical surfboard from time to time? Of course.”

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

At Bondi Beach, Will is loading his daughters, aged six and eight, into a kid trailer on his e-bike after their daily swim, his surfboard attached to the side.

From BBC ● Mar. 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

"GPX4 is a bit like a surfboard," says Conrad.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 9, 2025

One carousel is dedicated solely to surfboard key chains with stenciled names, alphabetically arranged.

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon

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

The change could benefit the Reel Inn Malibu, a family-owned seafood restaurant adorned with surfboards and string lights that had operated for 36 years before it was destroyed in the fire.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 6, 2026

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

Protesters, some carrying surfboards bearing slogans demanding more to be done to ensure safety on local beaches, marched through the city on Sunday.

From BBC ● May 9, 2024

He imagined a life of surfboards with groups of tanned people eating medium-spiced corn chips on his seaside balcony.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan