English vocabulary · B2
Surmount
/sərˈmaʊnt/ · v.
It means to overcome a serious problem or difficulty. When you surmount something, you rise above it and get past it through hard work.
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Example sentences
- She trained for two years to surmount her fear of public speaking.
- The team worked hard to surmount every problem in the design.
Word origin and roots
from French
- sur — over (from French)
- mount — climb (from French)
Synonyms and nuances
- OVERCOME — get past a problem (General & Broad)
- CONQUER — defeat completely (Strong & Decisive)
- CLEAR — get past an obstacle (Physical & Literal)
Words with the same root
mount — climb
- mountain — a very high area of land
- amount — a total that things add up to
- paramount — more important than everything else
Lesson notes
Surmount. It means to overcome a serious problem or difficulty. When you surmount something, you rise above it and get past it through hard work.
Similar words are overcome, conquer, and clear. Use surmount when the challenge is serious and the effort to beat it is real.
She trained for two years to surmount her fear of public speaking. The team worked hard to surmount every problem in the design.
From French. Sur- means over. Mount- means climb. Climbing over what stands in your way — that is to surmount.