sub·sur·face
ˈsəb-ˌsər-fəs 
: earth material (such as rock) near but not exposed at the surface of the ground
sub·sur·face
ˌsəb-ˈsər-fəs
: of, relating to, or being something located beneath a surface and especially underground
Examples of subsurface in a Sentence
Adjective
a sandy wasteland that gave little hint of its subsurface wealth
Recent Examples on the Web
John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
That subsurface pulse has now reached the eastern Pacific, helping fuel intense warming off South America.
—Pedro Dinezio, The Conversation, 14 May 2026
John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, 8 Dec. 2022
After analyzing that data, researchers had a subsurface picture of the rocks, clay and thermal liquid below Yellowstone.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for subsurface
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Noun
In addition to minnows, try using insect larvae, subsurface flies, small spinners, jigs and tiny crankbaits pulled directly over the beds.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
That subsurface pulse has now reached the eastern Pacific, helping fuel intense warming off South America.
—Pedro Dinezio, The Conversation, 14 May 2026
Adjective
An entire ocean’s worth is unlikely, but a significant amount of subsurface water isn’t.
—John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, 8 Dec. 2022
After analyzing that data, researchers had a subsurface picture of the rocks, clay and thermal liquid below Yellowstone.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for subsurface
Cite this Entry
“Subsurface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsurface. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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