surmount

[ ser-mount ]

verb (used with object)

1. to mount upon; get on the top of; mount upon and cross over:

   to surmount a hill.

2. to get over or across (barriers, obstacles, etc.).
3. to prevail over:

   to surmount tremendous difficulties.

4. to be on top of or above:

   a statue surmounting a pillar.

5. to furnish with something placed on top or above:

   to surmount a tower with a spire.

6. Obsolete.
   1. to surpass in excellence.
   2. to exceed in amount.

surmount

/ sɜːˈmaʊnt /

verb

1. to prevail over; overcome

   to surmount tremendous difficulties

2. to ascend and cross to the opposite side of
3. to lie on top of or rise above
4. to put something on top of or above
5. obsolete.
   to surpass or exceed

Derived Forms

• surˈmounter, noun
• surˈmountable, adjective
• surˈmountableness, noun

Other Words From

• sur·mount·a·ble [ser-, moun, -t, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• sur·mount·er noun
• un·sur·mount·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surmount¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French sormonter, surmounter, Old French sor(e)monter, s(o)urmonter; sur- ¹, mount ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of surmount¹

C14: from Old French surmonter, from sur- ¹+ monter to mount ¹

Example Sentences

But each team should be able to define its limitations and surmount them well enough to assemble a playoff team, if not a championship team, in a league in which 40% of teams make the playoffs.

From Los Angeles Times

What makes it extra special: “Wildflowers like nothing I’ve ever seen around the L.A. area in the spring. And when the clouds roll in as you hike to the summit above them, it’s quite magical. The way back has treacherous eroded mini-canyons, you have to surmount carefully, so the reward at the end makes it much better.”

From Los Angeles Times

That’s precisely why I forced myself to surmount my anxiety on the second day of Lollapalooza when we were slated to see the Chilis.

From Salon

Biden in particular struggled to surmount voters’ concerns that he would be fit to govern the country well into his 80s.

From Los Angeles Times

But he warns that many similar reform attempts failed in the past; for this one to be useful, “there should be a strong political will to go ahead and to surmount resistance.”

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• conquer