surfing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, Everyday, Technical (sports, computing)
Quick answer
What does “surfing” mean?
The sport or activity of riding on waves while standing or lying on a special board (surfboard).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The sport or activity of riding on waves while standing or lying on a special board (surfboard).
The activity of browsing or navigating casually and widely through information, channels, or networks, especially the internet.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Pronunciation of /r/ in American English; potential for British English to use 'surf' as a countable noun ('a surf') more readily, but 'surfing' is standard for the activity.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties. The sport is strongly associated with specific coastal cultures (California, Hawaii, Australia, Cornwall).
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties for both literal and metaphorical uses.
Grammar
How to Use “surfing” in a Sentence
go ~be ~do some ~enjoy ~spend time ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “surfing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They surf every weekend in Cornwall.
- He spent the afternoon surfing the web for holiday deals.
American English
- We surf at Huntington Beach when the swell is good.
- She was just surfing channels and found an old movie.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form; 'surfingly' is non-standard and extremely rare.
American English
- No standard adverbial form; 'surfingly' is non-standard and extremely rare.
adjective
British English
- The surfing community in Newquay is very welcoming.
- He bought new surfing shorts.
American English
- The surfing conditions are perfect today.
- They live a surfing lifestyle in Southern California.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tech/IT contexts ('web surfing analytics') or metaphorical use for market trends ('surfing a wave of demand').
Academic
Used in sports science, media studies (for internet use), and cultural studies.
Everyday
Very common for both the water sport and casual internet use.
Technical
Specific in sports (manoeuvres, equipment). In computing, 'web surfing' is a standard term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “surfing”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “surfing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “surfing”
- Using 'surf' incorrectly as a continuous noun for the activity (e.g., 'I like to do surf' instead of 'I like to surf/go surfing').
- Confusing spelling: 'surfing' not 'serfing'.
- Over-applying the metaphor (e.g., 'surfing the library' sounds odd).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, since the 1990s, its most common metaphorical use is for casual browsing, especially on the internet ('web surfing') or TV ('channel surfing').
They are often synonymous for internet use. 'Surfing' implies more casual, aimless, or pleasure-oriented movement, while 'browsing' can be slightly more purposeful, but the distinction is subtle.
Yes, frequently, as a modifier (e.g., surfing board, surfing magazine, surfing culture). It functions as a gerundial adjective.
Not exactly. 'Surf' is primarily the noun for the foam of waves or the verb for the activity. 'Surfing' is the -ing form (gerund/participle) used for the continuous action or the name of the activity ("I love to surf" vs. "Surfing is my hobby").
The sport or activity of riding on waves while standing or lying on a special board (surfboard).
Surfing is usually informal, everyday, technical (sports, computing) in register.
Surfing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɜː.fɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɝː.fɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “couch surfing”
- “channel surfing”
- “surfing the net”
- “surfing the channels”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SERF (sounds like 'surf') riding a wave on a board instead of working the land. The 'ing' shows the ongoing action.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION/ENTERTAINMENT IS AN OCEAN; THE USER IS A SURFER (navigating, riding waves of content, sometimes wiped out by too much data).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common meaning or use of 'surfing'?