body-surf: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Sport/Leisure
Quick answer
What does “body-surf” mean?
To ride on a breaking wave without using a board or any flotation device, using only one's body.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To ride on a breaking wave without using a board or any flotation device, using only one's body.
To engage in the physical activity of catching and sliding with a breaking ocean wave, using one's body as the surf craft. Can be used more metaphorically or humorously to describe moving swiftly and smoothly with or through a medium (e.g., a crowd).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. The activity is more commonly associated with coastal cultures globally (e.g., Australia, USA, South Africa). Terminology is identical.
Connotations
Both carry connotations of fun, spontaneity, and physical skill. May evoke childhood memories of beach holidays.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to broader cultural prominence of surfing, but well-understood in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “body-surf” in a Sentence
[Subject] body-surfs (intransitive)[Subject] body-surfs [a wave/ the breakers] (transitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “body-surf” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The children spent the afternoon trying to body-surf the small waves.
- He body-surfed all the way to the shore on a massive breaker.
American English
- We're gonna body-surf this swell until sunset.
- She expertly body-surfed the wave, riding it for several seconds.
adjective
British English
- The body-surfing enthusiast was first in the water every morning.
- They found a great body-surfing beach on the south coast.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Possibly in a metaphorical sense about 'riding a trend' (e.g., 'The company body-surfed the crypto wave').
Academic
Rare. Only in specific studies of marine sports, coastal recreation, or kinesiology.
Everyday
Common in conversations about beach trips, holidays, and seaside activities.
Technical
Used in surfing and lifeguarding contexts to describe a specific form of wave riding.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “body-surf”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “body-surf”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “body-surf”
- Misspelling as one word 'bodysurf' (acceptable variant) or hyphenated 'body-surf' (standard).
- Confusing with 'boogie board' or 'bodyboard' (which uses a small board).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Surfing' generally implies using a surfboard. 'Body-surfing' specifically means riding a wave using only your body, without any board.
Yes, though less common. The activity is usually called 'body-surfing' (gerund/noun). You can say 'We went for a body-surf' or 'Body-surfing is fun'.
It requires basic swimming ability, wave awareness, and timing. It's often considered easier to start than board surfing but still requires practice to do well.
The standard dictionary form is hyphenated ('body-surf'), but the closed form ('bodysurf') is a common and accepted variant, especially in informal and sports writing.
To ride on a breaking wave without using a board or any flotation device, using only one's body.
Body-surf is usually informal, sport/leisure in register.
Body-surf: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒdi sɜːf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːdi sɜːrf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Ride the wave (metaphorical, not specific to body-surfing)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of your BODY as the SURFboard.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HUMAN BODY IS A VEHICLE; WAVES ARE A FORCE/PATH FOR TRANSPORT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of body-surfing?