surface

1 of 4

noun (1)

sur·​face ˈsər-fəs 

1

: the exterior or upper boundary of an object or body

on the surface of the water

the earth's surface

2

: a plane or curved two-dimensional locus of points (such as the boundary of a three-dimensional region)

plane surface

surface of a sphere

3

a

: the external or superficial aspect of something

trouble lurks below the surface

b

: an external part or layer

sanded the rough surfaces

see also:

on the surface

surface

2 of 4

adjective

1

a

: of, located on, or designed for use at the surface of something

b

: situated, transported, or employed on the surface of the earth

surface mail

surface vehicles

2

: appearing to be such on the surface only : superficial

surface friendships

surface

3 of 4

verb

surfaced; surfacing

transitive verb

1

: to give a surface to: such as

a

: to plane or make smooth

b

: to apply the surface layer to

surface a highway

2

: to bring to the surface

surface a sunken ship

intransitive verb

1

: to work on or at the surface

2

: to come to the surface

3

: to come into public view : show up

letters that have recently surfaced

surfacer noun

surfacer

4 of 4

noun (2)

sur·​fac·​er

ˈsərfə̇sər;

ˈsə̄fə̇sə(r, 

ˈsəif-

plural -s

: one that surfaces: such as

a

: a machine for planing or dressing the surface (as of wood, metal, or stone) compare buzz planer, cylinder planer

b

: a device used in preparing railroad ties for tie plates

c

: one that surfaces furniture

d

: an undercoat of paint used to level up inequalities of a surface

e

: a worker who grinds and polishes optical lenses

f

: seasoner sense c

g

: a worker who smooths the faces of watch wheels and reduces them to the proper thickness by rubbing them on a wet emery-paper surface

Synonyms of surface

Noun (1)

• exterior
• front

Adjective

• superficial
• shallow

Verb

• emerge
• arise
• appear
• occur
• happen

Examples of surface in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The painting's surface is covered with fine cracks.

The bowl has a shiny surface.

The surface of wood was rough.

Be careful of icy surfaces on the roads.

Adjective

Despite the surface differences between the two candidates, they are very similar in most ways.

a surface stain on the wood that can easily be removed with a mild detergent

Verb

The whale surfaced and then dove back down.

The information surfaced many years later.

After several years, the actress surfaced in a comedy.

The road needs to be surfaced again.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Salicylic acid works deep within pores to tackle buildup, while lactic acid smooths rough texture and refines skin’s surface, leaving skin looking clearer and feeling smoother in just a few swipes. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026

Smoke will not be equally thick everywhere, but air quality can change quickly depending on wind direction and how much smoke mixes down to the surface. — Joe Ruch, CBS News, 23 June 2026

Adjective

After Friday’s 50-minute practice session — the Cup cars’ only time on the track before Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race — drivers were united in their concerns about the multi-surface circuit’s lack of grip, tight walls and fears of a high attrition rate in Sunday’s 75-lap feature. — Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2026

Audiences Were Never in One Place The shift toward multi-surface creation isn’t just happening on the creator side. — Stephanie Hind, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026

Verb

Therefore, building mental endurance is essential to staving off decision fatigue and reducing the judgment errors that tend to surface when a leader's cognitive reserves run low. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 24 June 2026

Rumors of such a move surfaced a while back … but still a bummer. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French, from Middle French, from sur- + face face, from Old French — more at face

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1778, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing surface

• control surface
• on the surface
• ruled surface
• scratch the surface
• surface-active
• surface area
• surface mail
• surface of revolution
• surface-ripened
• surface structure
• surface tension
• surface-to-air
• surface-to-air missile
• surface-to-surface missile
• surface wave

Rhymes for surface

• hypersurface
• undersurface
• resurface
• subsurface

Kids Definition

surface

1 of 2 noun

sur·​face ˈsər-fəs 

1

: the outside of an object or body

on the surface of the water

the earth's surface

2

: any flat or curved two-dimensional area in space

the surface of a cube

3

: the outside appearance

on the surface the plan seems good

surface adjective

surface

2 of 2 verb

surfaced; surfacing

1

a

: to make smooth

b

: to apply the surface layer to

surface a road

2

: to bring or come to the surface

3

: to come into public view

letters that recently surfaced

Medical Definition

surface

noun

sur·​face ˈsər-fəs 

: the exterior or upper boundary of an object or body

the mesial and distal surfaces of a tooth