surface 1 of 3

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

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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

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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

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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

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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
Nonfood-contact surfaces have accumulation of soil (Gaskets, reach-in freezer). Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025 These datasets can help guide decisions about where to explore for these minerals, how to mitigate the environmental impacts of mining, and how to assess Earth's evolving surface in a changing climate. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
In the immediate aftermath, rumors of a fallout between the two surfaced, fueled by the duo exchanging words on social media and Raisa reportedly unfollowing Gomez on Instagram. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025 And at many universities the process through which differences in institutional values are surfaced and reconciled is unclear, especially as AI initiatives have often sidestepped democratic faculty governance. Chris Wegemer, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
This wet-dry vacuum can tackle literally any mess with a multi-surface wet roller head, a hair de-tangler, and a dust detect sensor. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Aug. 2025 With modern farming, and its use of pesticides and herbicides, surface microbial communities often suffer. New Atlas, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for surface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surface
Noun
  • Baisi and Sayeed toured Yale together to examine the architectural styles and study the light in both the interiors and exteriors.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The exterior is wrapped in Alice + Olivia’s storm floral print.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While stocks in the region, so far, have underperformed their emerging-market peers, letting down many investors, these lower valuations are attractive to KKR because of the positive macro trends.
    Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Israel, meanwhile, has emerged from the war in a much stronger security position after decimating Hamas in Gaza, slamming Hezbollah in Lebanon, and hammering Iran's nuclear facilities.
    Greg Myre, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bright nighttime skies are on the way in Michigan as the year's first full supermoon will rise in the sky Monday, astronomers say.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • In six of the past seven seasons, the number of Englishmen playing in major leagues on the continent has risen.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Whereas Black Ops 6 relished in the texture of its period setting, giving players maps ranging from a warlord’s villa filled with luxury cars or dilapidated bus depots overgrown with foliage, BLOPS 7 has a superficial glossiness to each of its levels.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The changes between the two Codalungas aren’t limited to the superficial, though.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There are two blinking lights on the front of its boxy body to approximate wide, moony pupils.
    Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Children's relocated its emergency department in 2023 to a new space built at the front of its hospital.
    Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And with those sightings arose… The Life of an AI Theory.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The same concern arises with jewelry, which is also a traditional way of holding gold.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • After a motorcyclist spotted a small skull lying on the desert sand, four bodies were found in two shallow graves in the southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert.
    Mason Leath, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In shallow portions of springs and spring runs, this means thousands of happy feet trample and destroy vegetation.
    Christopher F. Meindl, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The talks may not result in a final deal, but at present Coinbase appears to have the inside track over Mastercard.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Her son, now 6, in a Spiderman shirt and a blue cast from a playground accident, appeared next.
    Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surface. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.

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