MEANING
To overcome an obstacle or difficulty, or rise above and stand over something.
Use it for
Use for overcoming a barrier in landscape, action, or character.Show effortful progress through an obstacle or fear.
Words that belong together
- surmount a difficulty
- surmount an obstacle
- surmount a ridge
On the page
They surmounted the ridge before the storm closed the pass.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- surmount
- Past tense
- surmounted
- Past participle
- surmounted
- Present participle
- surmounting
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- surmount
- Present continuous
- am/is/are surmounting
- Present perfect
- have/has surmounted
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been surmounting
- Past
- surmounted
- Past continuous
- was/were surmounting
- Past perfect
- had surmounted
- Past perfect continuous
- had been surmounting
- Future
- will surmount
- Future continuous
- will be surmounting
- Future perfect
- will have surmounted
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been surmounting
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Formal verb; use it for a significant barrier, not a minor inconvenience.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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