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Definition of surfboard

surfboard

/ˈsɝːfˌbɔːrd/
surf · board
Plural:surfboards
•
Past Simple:surfboarded
•
Past Participle:surfboarded
•
Present Participle:surfboarding
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surfboard Lexical Profile

surfboard Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A long, narrow board used in the sport of surfing to ride on the forward face of a moving wave.

Example

"She carefully applied wax to her surfboard before paddling out into the ocean."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for surfboard

• verb

1

To ride toward the shore on the crest of a wave using a specially designed board.

Example

"They spent the entire summer surfboarding off the coast of California."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for surfboard

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'surfboard' can technically be used as a verb, modern English speakers almost exclusively use the simpler verb 'surf' to describe the action.

• Nearby Words

surfable
surface
surfacing
surfboard
surfboarder
surfboarding
surfeit

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'surf' and 'board', first recorded in the early 19th century to describe the long wooden watercraft used by Native Hawaiians for riding waves (he'e nalu).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Surfboard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/surfboard
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