# surf

/ˈsɝf/ (US) · /sˈɜːf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/surf
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. to ride waves

verb · CEFR A2

to stand or lie on a special board and ride on the waves of the ocean.

For teachers: to ride on the crest of a wave towards the shore, typically while standing or lying on a surfboard.

- He learned to surf while on holiday in Australia last summer.
- Experienced athletes often travel to the coast of Portugal to surf the massive Atlantic swells during the winter months.

### 2. to browse the internet

verb · CEFR B1

to spend time looking at different websites on the internet.

For teachers: to browse the internet or switch through television channels in a casual or exploratory manner.

- I usually surf the web for an hour before I go to sleep.
- While waiting for the software to update, she spent the afternoon surfing the internet for inspiration for her next design project.

### 3. ocean waves

noun · CEFR B1

the white foam and waves that break on the shore of the sea.

For teachers: the mass or line of white foam formed by waves breaking on the shore or a reef.

- We could hear the sound of the surf from our hotel room.
- The thunderous roar of the surf against the jagged cliffs made it impossible for the rescue team to hear each other speak.

### 4. surfing session

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

an act or period of time spent riding waves on a board.

For teachers: an instance or session of engaging in the sport of surfing.

- The morning surf was great today because the wind was very calm.
- After a long morning surf, the group gathered on the beach to dry their boards and discuss the best waves of the day.

## Examples

- The children played in the white surf all afternoon.
- The sound of the crashing surf made it difficult to hear the conversation on the beach.
- Experienced swimmers know that the pull of the receding surf can be deceptively strong, even when the waves appear manageable from the safety of the dunes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.