challenge to surmount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "challenge to surmount" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an obstacle or difficulty that one must overcome or deal with. Example: "The project presented a significant challenge to surmount, but the team was determined to succeed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When it is your own loss it is always a great challenge to surmount.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And while there are still huge challenges to surmount, that number could easily double in the coming year.

The New York Times - Science

But the company, nanoFlowcell, still has plenty of challenges to surmount before it will be ready to roll the car out to the masses.

The Guardian

He added later that the wearables team has been given a set of challenges to surmount, too: "We can't have something fragile, we can't have something that needs to be charged everyday.

TechCrunch

There have been high-wire legal challenges to surmount.

Huffington Post

There are clearly numerous challenges to surmount in order to apply knowledge about renal stem cells towards clinical therapies.

Biochemical Journal

As distance education has evolved to include a range of online offerings, including for-credit online degree programs and massive open online courses (MOOCs), new technologies have arisen that can make these challenges easier to surmount.

Johns Hopkins University

Campion admitted that there were budgetary and time limits on the production, but preferred to see it as a creative challenge to be surmounted.

The Guardian

But, characteristically, he was interested in understanding rather than performance: each new piece was a challenge to be surmounted then surpassed.

The Guardian - Tech

"Saying 'I don't want kids' simply set me up as a challenge to be surmounted".

Huffington Post

Working out your ideas on paper is a wonderful way to see opportunities, pitfalls and challenges for you to surmount.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "challenge to surmount", ensure the context clearly establishes the difficulty being addressed. It's suitable for formal writing and presentations where you want to convey a sense of overcoming obstacles.

Common error

Avoid using "challenge to surmount" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "problem to solve" or "obstacle to overcome" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "challenge to surmount" functions as a purpose connector, often linking a problem or obstacle with the action needed to overcome it. It describes a difficult situation and the necessity of overcoming it. Ludwig AI confirms it as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "challenge to surmount" is a grammatically sound and useful expression to convey the need to overcome a significant obstacle. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is best suited for formal writing and professional contexts. While not exceedingly common, its consistent usage in reputable sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and Forbes, underscores its value in expressing determination and the importance of overcoming difficulties. Alternatives such as "obstacle to overcome" or "difficulty to conquer" may be more appropriate in less formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obstacle to overcome

Focuses more directly on the barrier itself rather than the act of overcoming it.

hurdle to clear

Implies a specific, often measurable, challenge.

difficulty to conquer

Emphasizes the effort and potential victory in overcoming the challenge.

problem to solve

Frames the challenge as a puzzle needing a solution.

impediment to resolve

Highlights the need for a formal or decisive action to remove the obstacle.

setback to redress

Implies a prior negative event that needs to be corrected or compensated for.

trial to endure

Focuses on the experience of undergoing a difficult period.

task to master

Highlights the skill or knowledge required to overcome the challenge.

test to pass

Frames the challenge as an evaluation of one's abilities.

mission to accomplish

Emphasizes the goal-oriented nature of overcoming the challenge.

FAQs

How to use "challenge to surmount" in a sentence?

Use "challenge to surmount" to describe an obstacle or difficulty that needs to be overcome. For example, "The company faced a significant challenge to surmount in order to regain market share."

What can I say instead of "challenge to surmount"?

You can use alternatives like "obstacle to overcome", "hurdle to clear", or "difficulty to conquer" depending on the context.

Is "challenge to surmount" formal or informal?

"Challenge to surmount" is generally considered a formal phrase. It is best suited for academic, professional, or news contexts.

What's the difference between "challenge to surmount" and "problem to solve"?

"Challenge to surmount" implies a significant obstacle requiring effort and determination to overcome. "Problem to solve"/"problem to solve" focuses on finding a solution to a specific issue, which may not necessarily be a major difficulty.