What does "surfing" mean?

1. (water sport) the sport of riding on waves while standing on a narrow board. 2. (browsing the internet) the activity of spending time looking at different websites on the internet.

How do you use "surfing"?

Often used with the verb 'go', as in 'to go surfing'. Commonly appears in the phrase 'surfing the web' or 'surfing the internet'.

surfing

US //ˈsɝfɪŋ// UK //sˈɜːfɪŋ// surf·ing

1 water sport (n.)
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.

Example

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

Example

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 browsing the internet (n.)
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.

Example

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

Example

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'.
- browsing
- scrolling

Origin

From surf + -ing