surfing

American  

[sur-fing] / ˈsɜr fɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or sport of riding the surf, as on a surfboard.

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surfing British  

/ ˈsɜːfɪŋ /

noun

1. the sport of riding towards shore on the crest of a wave by standing or lying on a surfboard

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Other Word Forms

• surfer noun

Etymology

Origin of surfing

First recorded in 1915–20; surf + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Which reminds me... the last time we spoke, Ridings confessed she'd always dreamt about crowd surfing, but her music was "too sad" to allow it.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

But most importantly, he noted, shark bites are rare in California — especially considering the number of people who are swimming, surfing, kayaking or otherwise enjoying the ocean at any time.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

“This is for crazy people,” Ms. Andrade remembers thinking when she started surfing there in 2014.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

You can paddleboard for €12 an hour in Audierne or take an-hour-and-a-half surfing lesson for €45.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

On the weekends our Moroccan friends would take us surfing, and we would go on train trips up and down the coast.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad