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
Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
The National Weather Service has issued a gale warning and high surf advisory across the coast in Northern California, calling the ocean conditions hazardous, especially for inexperienced mariners and those operating small vessels.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Tom Howarth
follow, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Even so, 14 attorneys general across the United States last month sued TikTok in part over the proliferation of dangerous viral challenges, and some families of teens killed while surfing subway cars also have sued social platforms.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surf 
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Noun
The weather service issued a a high surf advisory that was extended through 11 a.m. Saturday, and a coastal flood advisory along much of the Bay coastline, set to run through 1 p.m. Sunday.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
The National Weather Service has issued a gale warning and high surf advisory across the coast in Northern California, calling the ocean conditions hazardous, especially for inexperienced mariners and those operating small vessels.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
In an encounter off the coast of Maui, a 61-year-old local man narrowly escaped with his life after being attacked by a shark while surfing on Friday morning.
—Tom Howarth
follow, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Even so, 14 attorneys general across the United States last month sued TikTok in part over the proliferation of dangerous viral challenges, and some families of teens killed while surfing subway cars also have sued social platforms.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
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 22 Nov. 2024.
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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