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
The walls are made of coral, and over time, the sea salt inside them rises to the surface and leaves pale marks that catch the light. Sandals Resorts, AFAR Media, 2 June 2025 If Resilience succeeds on June 5, the lander will deploy a small rover called Tenacious and also operate a suite of scientific instruments on the lunar surface. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 2 June 2025
Verb
With Venus retrograde in Aries starting on March 1 and affecting your career and outward expression, old insecurities about your worth and ambitions may surface. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 June 2025 Without a job posting or a search, Diaz’s name alone surfaced as a replacement. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2025
Adjective
In it were tablets containing concentrated hand soap as well as multi-surface, glass and bathroom cleaners — and four empty containers. Susan Shain, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2023 The sub was fitted with six 533-millimeter torpedo tubes and carried a mix of both anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 23 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for surface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surface
Noun
  • Clean the exterior Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the screen, case and back.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
  • In contrast to Scribner’s modish black exterior, the library is cast in blond wood with leather and wood seating and plenty of plush spots to curl up with complimentary coffee around a central fireplace.
    John Oseid, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Awe often emerges from struggle — the effort required to understand a complex concept, the journey to reach a spectacular vista, or the years of practice needed to appreciate artistic mastery.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • This card often symbolizes new beginnings that emerge from emotional clarity.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • Interestingly, this percentage rises to 64% when examining data from the last 3 years instead of 5.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • This could further exacerbate the challenges facing first-time homebuyers in the state, who are struggling to get on the property ladder due to historically high mortgage rates, rising prices, and growing housing costs.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Full look: Burberry; socks: stylist’s own Gorka Postigo The phenomenon of celebrities speaking out about current events can sometimes feel superficial, but Ramsey is quick to affirm the opposite of Pascal.
    Peyton Dix, Them., 27 May 2025
  • Some journalists refused to use AI for anything more than superficial interview transcription, while others use it broadly, to edit text, answer research questions, summarize large bodies of science text, or search massive troves of data for salient bits of information.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • Trump’s team is working furiously to keep the bill going on other fronts, too: seeking to discredit Congress’s nonpartisan scorekeeper while savaging Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., for resisting the bill and its debt ceiling increase.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 June 2025
  • Trump has repeatedly attacked Harvard on multiple fronts—accusing the school of harboring antisemitism, enrolling too many foreign students, accepting excessive foreign funding and being hostile to conservatives.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • However, with a strategic approach and dedication, opportunities will arise.
    Jay Garcia, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Over time, writing arose in multiple locations in Asia and Africa.
    Sam Kean, The Atlantic, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • The beach forms an arc, and the bright blue waters are calm and shallow, making this the perfect spot to lounge, swim, or snorkel during a summer day.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
  • Its roots are shallow, so keeping it away from the base of roses and other staunch woody perennials is not a big deal.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The sculpture appears in the form of a glass cube, which glows with light that changes color based on live temperature data taken from the Hoh Rain Forest in near Seattle, Washington State.
    Lucy Handley, CNBC, 1 June 2025
  • Summers appeared as the show’s announcer instead and was an executive producer.
    Victoria Edel, People.com, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surface. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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