surfing
SFIHNG
Surfing (noun) means the sport of riding ocean waves on a board. Example: “Surfing is huge along the coast of California.”
noun
1
The sport of riding ocean waves on a board.
"Surfing is huge along the coast of California."
"My brother took up surfing after his first holiday in Cornwall."
"Surfing lessons usually start with practising balance on the sand."
2
The activity of browsing the internet from page to page.
"He lost track of time surfing social media."
"To J. M. Duffin, former student and now assistant archivist at the University of Pennsylvania, thanks for courteous surfings of the Internet for missing dates, publishers, and other embarrassing gaps in my text."
— Don Yoder, Groundhog Day (2003)
"Surfing the web late at night makes it hard for me to sleep."
"She spent the afternoon surfing from one recipe site to another."
How to use surfing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRiding waves on a surfboard, or browsing online.
Common pairings
go surfing
internet surfing
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Word forms
- Plural
- surfings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ is huge along the coast of California.
Synonyms
View more →
wave riding
board riding
web browsing
surfboarding
surfriding
surf riding
Frequently asked questions
What does “surfing” mean?
The word “surfing” means the sport of riding ocean waves on a board. In plain terms, riding waves on a surfboard, or browsing online.
How do you pronounce “surfing”?
“Surfing” is pronounced SFIHNG (/ˈsɝfɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “surfing” in a sentence?
Here is “surfing” used in a sentence: “Surfing is huge along the coast of California.”
What is another word for “surfing”?
Words with a similar meaning to “surfing” include surf riding.
What part of speech is “surfing”?
“Surfing” is a noun.
Is “surfing” a common word?
“Surfing” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “surfing” have?
“Surfing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the sport of riding ocean waves on a board.
What is the difference between surfing and surf riding?
Surfing and surf riding refer to the same sport: riding ocean waves on a board. "Surf riding" is simply an older or more descriptive alternative phrasing for the same activity.
What is the difference between surfing the internet and channel surfing?
Surfing the internet refers to the activity of browsing the internet from page to page, moving between websites. Channel surfing applies the same idea of restless, casual browsing to television, flipping between channels rather than web pages.
Is "surfing" only used for water sports?
No, "surfing" also commonly refers to the activity of browsing the internet from page to page, a figurative extension of the water sport. Context usually makes clear which meaning is intended, such as "went surfing at the beach" versus "was surfing the internet all night."
