surface 1 of 3

noun

ˈsər-fəs How to pronounce surface (audio)
Definition of surfacenext
as in exterior
an outer part or layer the surface of just about everything in the kitchen was covered with soot after we put the grease fire out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

surface

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to emerge
to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly no information regarding the stolen car has surfaced since the police found it abandoned on a country road

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to rise
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below a submarine surfaced on the starboard side of the aircraft carrier

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

surface

3 of 3

adjective

as in superficial
lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something a surface stain on the wood that can easily be removed with a mild detergent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of surface
Noun
Users can stow it in their pockets, then open it up and watch a movie on its matte, light-deflecting surface. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 This zone is full of carbon that’s been lifted up from the star’s core to its surface. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
New concepts with similar themes have surfaced in the broadband era. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 The store’s explanation prompted further conversations to circulate online, especially after images surfaced of a price tag being shown near the bird. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Seahawk missions include anti-surface warfare, combat support, humanitarian disaster relief, and combat search and rescue, according to Naval Air Systems Command. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 1 July 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for surface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surface
  1. exterior
  2. emerge
  3. rise
  4. superficial
  5. front
  6. arise
  7. shallow
  8. appear
Noun
  • Walls, ceilings and the house’s exterior, however, got a fresh coat of paint.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The exterior of the sculpture is adorned with synthetic braids, a fundamental material with Peacock, for whom braiding is a metaphor for relation, an embrace, irreducible intimacy.
    — Jane Bua, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of exterior
Verb
  • This latest round of funding supports an exciting range of projects from emerging creatives forging new paths to established voices exploring new creative territory.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a real opportunity in the fourth episode to do something fun, or at least interesting, when Tyson convinces Russ to join him in smoking hallucinatory toad venom, but no flair or flourishes emerge.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of emerge
Verb
  • The price of Brent crude oil rose to $106 per barrel this morning.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The milestone arrives at a precarious time for Australia’s festival sector, which has seen a wave of cancellations and closures in recent years amid rising costs and softening ticket sales.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of rise
Adjective
  • Tyson is at once scary, funny, personable, distasteful, introspective, superficial, articulate and incoherent.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Officers arrived at Harrison's room at the Great Wolf Lodge and noticed bleeding cuts on her left wrist and superficial punctures on her neck, the criminal complaint said.
    — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of superficial
Noun
  • Stamos and Christian Love helped Mike to his feet, and then, on either side of him, held his arms aloft in the air in a triumphant pose, until the curtains closed in front of them.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Jones has become known for hosting some of the biggest names in Southern art, including Tara Stallworth Lee, Daniel José Carr, Renee Hanan Plata, and William Dooley, at Room 412, his tiny gallery space at the front of his apartment.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of front
Verb
  • Zacharia had little time to prepare for the briefing, which can be a challenging joust with the press in which a press secretary needs to advocate on behalf of the administration and improvise quickly when tricky topics arise.
    — Michael Birnbaum The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Pope Leo, who is fully conscious and already walking around, remains contactable and will likely be able to liaise with church officials, should any pertinent issues arise during his hospital stay.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of arise
Adjective
  • Depending on the route, manufacturers can add protective layers and steel-wire armoring to help the cable withstand demanding conditions, particularly in shallower waters where anchors and fishing equipment pose greater risks.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • For all other beaches and harbors, shallow with minor to moderate sea- water flooding will likely impact beaches and walkways, especially with the Sunday morning high tide which could cause local damage to most vulnerable locations such as Venice.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of shallow
Verb
  • Companies appearing on the Norrsken/100 included those working on overhauling and strengthening grid capacity and transforming renewables storage.
    — Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • When appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, the Canadian pop singer teased the single.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of appear

Phrases Containing surface

Browse Nearby Words

surf
surface
surfaced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surface. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All