Our verb mount, meaning "ascend, get up onto", comes from the same Latin root as mountain, and we keep those images in mind when using surmount, since climbing up or over a mountain is a symbol of achievement. The word almost always refers to human effort, and almost always in a positive way; thus, we speak of surmounting difficulties, surmounting problems, surmounting hurdles, surmounting handicaps—you get the idea.
an Olympic swimmer who surmounted endless obstacles to achieve her goals
Recent Examples on the WebSo far, the first-mover advantage for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna has been difficult for any other vaccine maker to surmount. Helen Branswell, STAT, 6 Sep. 2022 Understandably, in the event of an accident, if thousands of neighbors know they might be forcibly displaced against the risk of a CT scan, the number of plants that can surmount local opposition will be limited. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 From the Columbine high school massacre in 1999 to this week’s wrenching tragedy in Uvalde, liberals have been fixated on finding an incremental reform that could surmount a Senate Republican filibuster. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 26 May 2022 The titular castle was a massive set lorded over by Kitano, and in each episode from 88 to 142 people tried to surmount obstacles to slay the King in his lair.PCMAG, 22 June 2022 Coco bumped against it but was immediately able to surmount the obstacle. Emma Balter, Chron, 17 May 2022 Most people in the state will not have the money or be able to surmount the logistical hurdles to travel to Illinois, Hancock said, which could soon be the closest state where abortions are legally available.Anchorage Daily News, 5 May 2022 Most women in the state will not have the money or be able to surmount the logistical hurdles to travel to Illinois, Hancock said, which could soon be the closest state where abortions are legally available.Washington Post, 4 May 2022 Both viewed education as a means to launch careers and surmount humble origins in Honduras, where endemic poverty, crime and corruption have long choked off avenues of social advancement. Patrick J. Mcdonnell, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French surmunter, from sur- + munter to mount