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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
While the temperatures have been warm, the FDNY said divers experienced rough surf during their search.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Yes as a onetime member of the band; or a sense that their music—with its own outlandish sonics, jarring interruptions, intricate riffs played once and tossed away—had more in common with his channel-surfing vision of pop than the average listener might have realized.
—Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for surf
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Noun
Balconies overlooking two pools that lead to the ocean, the sound of swaying palms and surf come gratis.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
While the temperatures have been warm, the FDNY said divers experienced rough surf during their search.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Verb
After wiping out at first, AJ feels the levitation and poetry of surfing.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Yes as a onetime member of the band; or a sense that their music—with its own outlandish sonics, jarring interruptions, intricate riffs played once and tossed away—had more in common with his channel-surfing vision of pop than the average listener might have realized.
—Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for surf
Cite this Entry
“Surf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surf. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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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