surf
surf
Surf (noun) means the foamy waves that break along a shoreline. Example: “We walked along the beach with the cold surf washing over our feet.”
noun
1
The foamy waves that break along a shoreline.
"We walked along the beach with the cold surf washing over our feet."
"They watched the surf crash against the rocks at sunset."
"The surf was too rough for swimming that day."
verb
1
To ride ocean waves on a board.
"She learned to surf on a beach in Portugal."
2
To browse casually from one website, channel, or page to another.
"I like to surf online for recipe ideas while the kettle boils."
"He spent the evening surfing the internet instead of working."
"Don't just surf channels — pick something and watch it."
How to use surf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBreaking waves at the beach, riding those waves on a board, or casually browsing online.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
surf the web
catch the surf
crashing surf
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Word forms
- Plural
- surfs
- Third person singular
- surfs
- Past tense
- surfed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We walked along the beach with the cold _____ washing over our feet.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, likely from an earlier English word for the rush of waves onto shore. The "browsing the internet" sense was popularized in the 1990s by librarian Jean Armour Polly.
Related words
Rhymes for surf
See all rhymes for surf →Frequently asked questions
What does “surf” mean?
The word “surf” means the foamy waves that break along a shoreline. In plain terms, breaking waves at the beach, riding those waves on a board, or casually browsing online.
How do you pronounce “surf”?
“Surf” is pronounced surf (/sɝf/ in IPA).
How do you use “surf” in a sentence?
Here is “surf” used in a sentence: “They watched the surf crash against the rocks at sunset.”
What part of speech is “surf”?
Depending on how it is used, “surf” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “surf” come from?
The word “surf” dates back to around 1990. Origin uncertain, likely from an earlier English word for the rush of waves onto shore. The "browsing the internet" sense was popularized in the 1990s by librarian Jean Armour Polly.
Is “surf” a common word?
“Surf” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “surf” have?
“Surf” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the foamy waves that break along a shoreline.
What is the difference between "surf" and "surfing"?
"Surf" can be a noun for the foamy waves breaking along a shoreline, or a verb meaning to ride ocean waves on a board or to browse casually online. "Surfing" is the noun form describing the activity itself, whether riding ocean waves or browsing the internet from page to page.
What is the difference between surfing on water and surfing the internet?
Surfing on water refers literally to riding ocean waves on a board, while surfing the internet is a figurative extension meaning to browse casually from one website or page to another. Both senses share the idea of moving smoothly and quickly across a shifting surface.
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