surface

noun sur·face \ ˈsər-fəs \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Examples: surface in a Sentence

Definition of surface

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

— on the surface

: to all outward appearances

See surface defined for English-language learners

See surface defined for kids

Examples of surface in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of surface from the Web

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, an array of more than 5,000 basketball-sized sensors suspended thousands of feet beneath the surface, detected the flash and then reconstructed the neutrino’s path.

— eoin o'carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, "Neutrino demonstration heralds a new way of observing the cosmos," 12 July 2018
But the painful memories are fresh, too, just beneath the surface.

— david haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Operating on Danny Farquhar's brain didn't change what was in White Sox pitcher's heart," 12 July 2018
Schellman pointed out that astronomers using regular telescopes can't see beneath the surface of the sun, but 30 years of observations of the low-energy neutrinos that emanate from our star's center have allowed scientists to peer into its core.

— author: sarah kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, "In a cosmic first, scientists detect ‘ghost particles’ from a distant galaxy," 12 July 2018
Though the ditches were filled in during subsequent centuries, deep trenches remain beneath the surface of the ground.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "A Heat Wave is Revealing Centuries-Old Sites in Wales," 11 July 2018
Like the horrifying house, there’s something ugly beneath Annie’s surface as well.

— katherine fusco, The Atlantic, "Hereditary and the Monstrousness of Creative Moms," 11 July 2018
Special equipment has been brought in to lift up the boat, which is sitting some 45 meters (148 feet) beneath the surface, officials said.

— Washington Post, "Thai official: 5 reported missing from sunken boat are alive," 9 July 2018
The wooden marvel, made for Burning Man by artist Jerry Snyder, honors Nevada’s state fossil, a gigantic sea reptile that once swam beneath the surface of a massive inland sea.

— harriot manley, SFChronicle.com, "Burning Man comes and goes, but the experience is year-round in Reno," 28 June 2018
Pain simmered beneath the surface of my days, barely hidden from the world.

— simone gorrindo, The Cut, "The Mysterious Medical Condition That Defined All My Relationships," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'surface.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of surface

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1600

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

surface Synonyms

surface

adjective

Definition of surface

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

See surface defined for English-language learners

Examples of surface in a Sentence

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

First Known Use of surface

1642

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

surface Synonyms

Synonyms

skin-deep, superficial;

Near Antonyms

deep, deep-seated;

Related Words

depthless, shallow, shoal;

two-dimensional;

external;

surface

verb

Definition of surface

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

See surface defined for English-language learners

Examples of surface in a Sentence

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 of surface from the Web

Photo: Chesnot/WireImage.. Photos that surfaced of Rihanna in what looks like an argument with her maybe-boyfriend Hassan Jameel in Mexico immediately set the BIG MOOD for this week.

— kathryn lindsay, refinery29.com, "Rihanna's Latest Instagram Post May Explain Those Pictures Of Her Arguing With Hassan Jameel," 11 July 2018
The blood sausage slab on top of a buckwheat galette that surfaced at the end of June was as seasonal as earmuffs.

— New York Times, "It’s Not Fake French, It’s Frenchette," 10 July 2018
One question is how the Fed viewed international risks that surfaced in the weeks before the June meeting.

— nick timiraos, WSJ, "What to Watch in the Federal Reserve’s June Meeting Minutes," 5 July 2018
Real Madrid have publicly denied the rumors that surfaced in Spain on Wednesday morning alleging that the reigning European champions had reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign teenage superstar Kylian Mbappe for €272m.

— SI.com, "Real Madrid Denies Reports of World Record Deal for Kylian Mbappe," 4 July 2018
Under one idea that surfaced from an economic task force headed by State Senate President Steve Sweeney, towns with populations under 5,000, like Oaklyn, would be required to consolidate.

— max cohen, Philly.com, "Is time up for tiny towns in New Jersey? Some say mergers would save money and lower taxes, but skeptics disagree," 3 July 2018
Agents are also barred from considering a person’s language, an issue that surfaced in an encounter in Montana last month.

— matthew haag, BostonGlobe.com, "In Maine and N.H., border patrol checkpoints," 23 June 2018
But the euphoria over that milestone was quickly overshadowed by the charges of voter irregularities that surfaced on the day of the election and grew louder in the weeks that followed.

— NBC News, "Iraq set for election recount amid fraud claims," 22 June 2018
Reynolds was the first person charged in the widespread corruption probe that surfaced in October 2016.

— christina hall, Detroit Free Press, "'Shakedown artist' Dean Reynolds guilty in Macomb corruption probe," 21 June 2018

First Known Use of surface

1778

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

surface Synonyms

Synonyms

arise, come up, crop (up), emerge, materialize, spring (up);

Related Words

appear, come out, show up, turn up;

chance, come, come about, fall out, go (on), go off, hap, happen, occur, pass, transpire;

interfere, interpose, intervene, intrude;

SURFACE Defined for English Language Learners

surface

noun

Definition of surface for English Language Learners

: an outside part or layer of something
: the upper layer of an area of land or water
: the flat, top part of something (such as a table or desk) that you can work on

surface

adjective

Definition of surface for English Language Learners

: involving only the parts that are easy to see or notice
: involving the removal of the surface of a large area of land to get at coal or other material that is near to the surface

surface

verb

Definition of surface for English Language Learners

: to rise to the surface of water
: to appear or become obvious after being hidden or not seen
: to put a surface on (something, such as a road)

SURFACE Defined for Kids

surface

noun sur·face \ ˈsər-fəs \

Definition of surface for Students

1 : the outside or any one side of an object

She floated on the water's surface.

2 : the outside appearance

On the surface the idea seems good.

surface

adjective

Definition of surface for Students

: not deep or real

a surface wound

a surface friendship

surface

verb

Definition of surface for Students

surfaced; surfacing

1 : to come to the surface

The submarine surfaced.

2 : to become obvious

Claudia's impatience surfaced.
—E. L. Konigsburg, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

3 : to give a new top layer to : make smooth (as by sanding or paving)

Medical Dictionary

surface

noun sur·face \ ˈsər-fəs \

medical Definition of surface

: the exterior or upper boundary of an object or body

the mesial and distal surfaces of a tooth

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surface

Definition of surface

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surface Synonyms

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surface

Definition of surface

surfacer

Examples of surface in a Sentence

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surface Synonyms

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SURFACE Defined for English Language Learners

surface

Definition of surface for English Language Learners

surface

Definition of surface for English Language Learners

surface

Definition of surface for English Language Learners

SURFACE Defined for Kids

surface

Definition of surface for Students

surface

Definition of surface for Students

surface

Definition of surface for Students

Medical Dictionary

surface

medical Definition of surface

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