surmount
verb
sur·mount
sər-ˈmau̇nt 
surmounted; surmounting; surmounts
1
: to prevail over : overcome
surmount an obstacle
2
: to get to the top of : climb
3
: to stand or lie at the top of
4
obsolete
: to surpass in quality or attainment : excel
Did you know?
Our verb mount, meaning "ascend, get up onto", comes from the same Latin root as mountain, and we keep those images in mind when using surmount, since climbing up or over a mountain is a symbol of achievement. The word almost always refers to human effort, and almost always in a positive way; thus, we speak of surmounting difficulties, surmounting problems, surmounting hurdles, surmounting handicaps—you get the idea.
Synonyms
Examples of surmount in a Sentence
an Olympic swimmer who surmounted endless obstacles to achieve her goals
Recent Examples on the Web
As a result, literature is full of reminders that long odds can sometimes be surmounted—that David can defeat Goliath, that perseverance can pay off, and that action can lead to change.
—
Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
His candidacy again surmounted innumerable obstacles and defied much of a political establishment that views him with utter disdain.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
Following up the arrival of Wicked Part One and Gladiator II at the box office right before Thanksgiving is a feat in and of itself, but following a beloved first feature installment gave Moana 2 even more of a wave to surmount.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
For comedians who reach a certain level of cultural ubiquity, fame becomes a problem to overcome in the work — an obstacle to relatability that has to be named and, ideally, punctured, or a summit to continually surmount with bigger venues and over-the-top spectacle.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surmount 
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Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
His candidacy again surmounted innumerable obstacles and defied much of a political establishment that views him with utter disdain.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
Following up the arrival of Wicked Part One and Gladiator II at the box office right before Thanksgiving is a feat in and of itself, but following a beloved first feature installment gave Moana 2 even more of a wave to surmount.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
For comedians who reach a certain level of cultural ubiquity, fame becomes a problem to overcome in the work — an obstacle to relatability that has to be named and, ideally, punctured, or a summit to continually surmount with bigger venues and over-the-top spectacle.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surmount
Dictionary Entries Near surmount
Cite this Entry
“Surmount.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surmount. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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surmount
verb
sur·mount
sər-ˈmau̇nt
1
: overcome sense 1
surmount an obstacle
2
: to get to the top of : climb
3
: to stand or lie at the top of : crown
a weather vane surmounts the roof
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