surface

noun sur·face \ ˈsər-fəs \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

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 study said the water table in Bangalore has fallen from 10-12 meters to 76-91 meters below the surface in the last two decades as the number of extraction wells soared.

— Washington Post, "Water mismanagement leaves India’s Silicon Valley parched," 16 May 2018
This deep sea corridor, 25,000 feet below the surface at its lowest point, was created by continental plates rubbing against each other over millions of years.

— erik heinrich, BostonGlobe.com, "Kittiwake wreck dive and Stingray City are unforgettable adventures – even if you do get bit," 16 May 2018
The tension between the city and county over who may have dropped the ball simmered just below the surface during the hepatitis crisis.

— michael smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hepatitis crisis has subsided, dispute over who's to blame hasn't," 16 May 2018
The Red Planet's average atmospheric pressure at the surface is about 6 millibars (0.09 psi), less than 0.06 percent of the air pressure at sea level on Earth.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "How to Fly a Helicopter on Mars," 15 May 2018
Built in 1965, the vessel helped to identify life lurking thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface before it was retired in 1972.

— National Geographic, "This Mysterious Deep-Sea Jellyfish Looks Like a Plastic Bag," 14 May 2018
In little more than a week, the top of the lava lake has gone from spilling over the crater to almost 970 feet below the surface as of Thursday morning, Mandeville said.

— NBC News, "Hawaii's Kilauea volcano could spew boulders the size of refrigerators for miles," 11 May 2018
The earthquake occurred just offshore and only about 5 kilometers below the surface.

— scott k. johnson, Ars Technica, "Here’s what’s going on with Hawaii’s erupting volcano," 11 May 2018
In the winter, more ocean water freezes at the surface, and the total ice extent increases.

— chelsea harvey, Scientific American, "Arctic Sea Ice Is Getting Younger. Here Is Why That Is a Problem.," 11 May 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

Just a couple days later, the internet is at it again, having surfaced yet another bizarre auditory illusion that has quickly gone viral.

— julie beck, The Atlantic, "What's Up With All These Viral Illusions?," 18 May 2018
On April 10 — two days before the stars welcomed baby girl True — photos and videos surfaced of the basketball player allegedly getting close to an unidentified woman at an N.Y.C. lounge.

— maria pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "Khloé Says Kardashian Women Are 'Strong and Resilient’ After Tristan Thompson Cheating Scandal," 17 May 2018
The officer, who resigned in the aftermath of the Feb. 14 shooting, was slammed as a coward by President Trump after video surfaced showing him outside Marjory Stoneman High School during the massacre.

— aamer madhani, USA TODAY, "Police: 'Heroic' officer thwarts mass shooting at high school in Dixon, Illinois," 16 May 2018
No evidence has surfaced suggesting that the maintenance of the 1977 Superior bus was a factor in the tragedy.

— The Courier-Journal, "Archives: 1988 reports on bus safety after the Carrollton crash," 14 May 2018
The Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee have called for a boycott of Mayfair mall and the firing of a police officer after a video surfaced of a Wauwatosa officer punching a teen outside the mall during an arrest.

— ashley luthern, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Black Panthers call for Mayfair mall boycott, firing of Tosa officer after viral video shows him punching teen," 13 May 2018
The three-year-old bear became the focus of global media attention in the summer of 2016 after footage surfaced of him alone, lying in his bare, concrete enclosure at the shopping mall.

— National Geographic, "Nearly Two Years Later, ‘World’s Saddest Polar Bear’ No Longer Sad?," 11 May 2018
Fish was fired on Oct. 10, 2017, after cellphone videos surfaced that showed him facilitating fights among some students.

— david owens, courant.com, "Ryan Fish, Montville Teacher Charged In Fight Club Case, Pleads Not Guilty," 8 May 2018
The author of that blog told The Washington Post that the tape has surfaced several times since 2000 on church watchdog sites.

— michelle boorstein, ajc, "Southern Baptist leader pushes back after comments leak urging abused women to pray, avoid divorce," 30 Apr. 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

Synonyms

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surface

Definition of surface

surfacer

Examples of surface in a Sentence

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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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