English Reference
noun

surfing

n.
US /ˈsɝfɪŋ/ UK /sˈɜːfɪŋ/ surf·ing UK spelling surfings

  1. 01 A2 Elementary Sport

    the sport of riding on waves while standing on a narrow board.

    the athletic activity or pastime of riding the crest of a breaking wave toward the shore, typically while standing on a surfboard.

    Simple

    We spent the whole summer surfing at the beach near my house.

    In context

    Professional surfing requires not only physical strength but also an intimate understanding of ocean currents and swell patterns.

    Usage

    Often used with the verb 'go', as in 'to go surfing'.

    wave riding
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

    the activity of spending time looking at different websites on the internet.

    the act of navigating through various websites or social media feeds, often in a casual or exploratory manner.

    Simple

    I spent a few hours surfing the web to find a good hotel.

    In context

    Late-night surfing of social media can disrupt sleep patterns due to the blue light emitted by smartphone screens.

    Usage

    Commonly appears in the phrase 'surfing the web' or 'surfing the internet'.


From surf + -ing

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated