resurface

verb

re·​sur·​face (ˌ)rē-ˈsər-fəs How to pronounce resurface (audio)
resurfaced; resurfacing; resurfaces
Synonyms of resurfacenext

transitive verb

: to provide with a new or fresh surface
resurface skin by dermabrasion

intransitive verb

: to come again to the surface (as of the water)
broadly : reappear
resurfacer noun

Examples of resurface in a Sentence

A few of the writer's journals have resurfaced. His resentment toward her resurfaced. The road needs to be resurfaced.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Emergency crews searched Saturday night for a swimmer who went underwater near a popular rock face on a lake in the North Carolina mountains and never resurfaced. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 14 June 2026 The Forty-Year Grudge by Liza Tully After four decades apart, former Sigma Delta Tau sisters reunite at a New Mexico ranch, where lingering tensions and old grudges quickly resurface. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 13 June 2026 Both fell off their boards, and Murray never resurfaced. Michael Guise, CBS News, 12 June 2026 Once the scene resurfaced online some ten years later, internet users leveraged the phrase as a way to distinguish those who were musically superior (who had the range) and those who were not, diminishing them regardless of their popularity. Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for resurface

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of resurface was in 1833

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Resurface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resurface. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

resurface

verb
re·​sur·​face rē-ˈsər-fəs How to pronounce resurface (audio)
1
: to provide with a new or fresh surface
resurface the table
2
: to come again to the surface (as of water)
resurfacer noun

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