1
: the swell of the sea that breaks upon the shore
2
: the foam, splash, and sound of breaking waves
surfed; surfing; surfs
1
: to ride the surf (as on a surfboard)
2
: to scan a wide range of offerings for something of interest
: to scan the offerings of (such as television or the Internet) for something of interest
surfer
noun
Examples of surf in a Sentence
Noun
We could hear the roar of the surf.
beachgoers romping in the swirling surf
Verb
He learned to surf when he was living in California.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
After removing the hooks and lines, Johnson pulled the fish by the tail into the ocean and released it in the surf, video shows.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
Alain Hunkins, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
But after that, sure enough, fun highlights, including the tippy top of the loop and superfast glimpse of Universal CityWalk, the busting through the New York facade, surfing above the queue and doubling back dramatically to the loading station.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for surf 
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Noun
After a morning in the surf, Cape Weligama’s open-air Ocean Terrace restaurant offered a feast: thick, creamy buffalo curd served with coconut treacle; baskets of lacy, crisp egg hoppers; fragrant green bean yellow curry served with regional red rice and crispy pappadums.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
After removing the hooks and lines, Johnson pulled the fish by the tail into the ocean and released it in the surf, video shows.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
Agility means being nimble in thought and action, ready to surf the waves of constant change.
—Alain Hunkins, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
But after that, sure enough, fun highlights, including the tippy top of the loop and superfast glimpse of Universal CityWalk, the busting through the New York facade, surfing above the queue and doubling back dramatically to the loading station.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for surf
Dictionary Entries Near surf
Cite this Entry
“Surf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surf. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
surf
1 of 2 noun1
: waves that break upon the shore
2
: the foam, splash, and sound of breaking waves
surf
2 of 2 verb1
: to ride the surf (as on a surfboard)
2
: to scan the offerings of (as television or the Internet) for something of interest
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