<p>The balance of the mechanical energy budget is central to modern ocean circulation theory. The energy input from winds into surface waves is the largest source of mechanical energy in the global ocean, yet how this wave energy dissipates remains an open question. Previous studies have shown that nonbreaking surface waves can directly transfer wave energy to turbulence through wave-turbulence interaction. Using an empirical scheme and wave reanalysis data, we estimate that the total nonbreaking wave energy dissipation via wave-turbulence interaction amounts to approximately 17 TW in the global ocean, predominantly occurring in extratropical regions during local winter. This dissipation accounts for roughly 25% of the total wind energy input into surface waves, with wind waves contributing 22% of the total. In contrast, the wave energy dissipation associated with swells is only about 2.2 TW (constituting 3% of the total), yet it plays a substantial role in the tropical ocean. For the first time, we reveal that a significant portion of wave energy is directly dissipated before wave breaking. This result indicates that wave-turbulence interaction is an important sink of wave energy and should be incorporated into surface wave simulations, ocean general circulation models, and upper-ocean turbulence generation processes.</p>