surfing

UK: /ˈsɜː^rfɪŋ/ US: /ˈsɝfɪŋ/ ,(sûr′fing)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

surf•ing /ˈsɜrfɪŋ/   n. [uncountable]

1. the act or sport of riding the crest of a breaking wave toward the shore, esp. on a surfboard.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

surf•ing  (sûr′fing), n. 

1. the act or sport of riding the surf, as on a surfboard. Also called surfriding. 

• surf + -ing¹ 1915–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

surfing / ˈsɜːfɪŋ/ noun

1. the sport of riding towards shore on the crest of a wave by standing or lying on a surfboard
   Also called: surfboarding

ˈsurfer, ˈsurfˌrider noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

surf /sɜrf/   n. [uncountable]

1. the swell of the waves of the sea that breaks upon a shore:
   rough surf during the hurricane.

v. [no object]

2. to go surfing.

surf•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

surf  (sûrf ), n. 

1. the swell of the sea that breaks upon a shore or upon shoals.
2. the mass or line of foamy water caused by the breaking of the sea upon a shore, esp. a shallow or sloping shore.

v.i. 

3. to ride a surfboard.
4. to float on the crest of a wave toward shore.
5. to swim, play, or bathe in the surf.
6. to search haphazardly, as for information on a computer network or an interesting program on television.

v.t. 

7. to ride a surfboard on:
   We surfed every big wave in sight.
8. to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment.

• 1675–85; earlier suff; of uncertain origin, originally

surf′a•ble, adj. 
surf′er, n. 
surf′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See wave. 

surf, +v.i. 

1. to search haphazardly, as for information on a computer network or an interesting program on television.

v.t. 

2. to search through (a computer network or TV channels) for information or entertainment.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

surf / sɜːf/ noun

1. waves breaking on the shore or on a reef
2. foam caused by the breaking of waves

verb

1. (intransitive) to take part in surfing
2. (on the internet) to move freely from website to website (esp in the phrase surf the net)
3. to move freely between (TV channels or radio stations)
4. to be carried on top of something

Etymology: 17th Century: probably variant of sough¹