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

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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

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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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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

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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
Plus, their rubber outsoles provide traction on wet ground and slippery surfaces. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026 That said, the surfaces are immaculate with Englert, serving as both co-director and cinematographer, moving through the Dostoevskys’ decline with astonishing care. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
The issue surfaced during Thursday’s board meeting, as trustees considered paying the county office for specialized day-program services provided to 36 district students during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. — Chaewon Chung updated September 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026 An end-to-end AI solution enriched leads with various signals (for example, M&A activity), prioritized leads with the highest conversion likelihood, surfaced relevant account intelligence, and enabled agentic AI outreach. — Harvard Business Review, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
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 Further, healthy conflict serves to challenge assumptions, surface unintended consequences and improve strategic judgment. — Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 27 May 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
  • Its rugged silicone exterior is IP67-rated to resist water, dust, and drops, while the flexible utility strap easily clips onto backpacks, handlebars, or coolers.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Even when behind the tinted exterior is just Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of exterior
Verb
  • Republicans should feature in political ads and during live appearances people who have emerged from socialist and communist countries.
    — Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The amount of business done between Premier League clubs quickly emerged as the defining theme of this summer’s transfer window.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of emerge
Verb
  • In recent weeks, new cases and deaths have declined in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, but risen sharply in neighboring North Kivu and Haut-Uele, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said at a weekly briefing.
    — JEAN-YVES KAMALE, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Since late July, diesel prices have been rising higher and faster overall than the cost of regular unleaded gas.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of rise
Adjective
  • On a superficial level, his plays, built around the emotional lives of his characters, can come off as a throwback to traditional realism.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Considered from one angle, the movie is superficial and conventional, zipping heedlessly between the characters without fretting about point of view, creating scenes that don’t so much illuminate characters as simply push the story along.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of superficial
Noun
  • The wow factor that had coaches and GMs gushing over the quarterback during the offseason was almost nowhere to be seen as Tulsa’s defensive front was in Mestemaker’s face most of Saturday.
    — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Moore’s Mona Friedman is indeed a familiar figure, a shy and impressionable wife who quietly nods along at dinner, lets people cut in front of her at the store, and seems generally uninterested in sticking up for herself.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of front
Verb
  • If the coach decides to move one of them to the wing full-time (likely McDavid in this scenario), the need will immediately arise for a second-line centre.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The talks surrounding Sunday alcohol sales recently arose during a citizens forum at a recent meeting, said City Administrator Jeff Dingman.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of arise
Adjective
  • Passengers were helped into smaller boats that took them to shallow water, and body bags were laid out at what looked like a port.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Have Bowers in a shallow league (8-man) and can swap Kittle, Juwan Johnson, or Likely.
    — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of shallow
Verb
  • Mercury's rough surface, continually reshaped by debris hurled from impact craters, may have hidden the true extent of the loss, according to the researchers whose findings appear in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • What was especially strange was that the initial rumors of the move appeared while the Avs were still in the playoffs.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of appear

Phrases Containing surface

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surface
surfaced
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Cite this Entry

“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surface. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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