Synonyms of surface

surface 1 of 3

noun

ˈsər-fəs 

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

• exterior
• front
• skin
• top
• outside
• shell
• face
• facade
• veneer
• facing
• appearance
• cover
• covering
• mask
• show
• semblance
• guise
• disguise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interior
• inside

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

• emerge
• arise
• appear
• occur
• happen
• materialize
• spring (up)
• come up
• crop (up)
• come
• come out
• go (on)
• turn up
• fall out
• show up
• interfere
• come about
• go off
• intrude
• intervene
• chance
• transpire
• pass
• interpose
• hap

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

• emerge
• rise
• break
• broach

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sink
• drop
• dive
• submerge
• plunge
• founder
• drown
• submerse

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

• superficial
• shallow
• shoal
• two-dimensional
• skin-deep
• depthless
• external

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deep
• deep-seated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of surface

Noun

The arrival of laptops, tablets and smartphones vastly accelerated the amount of time that children spend focused on surfaces within arm’s reach. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Cooler air and lower humidity pull moisture out of the skin, leaving the surface dull, rough and sometimes flaky. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Verb

His campaign faced significant backlash in September after social media posts containing slurs against people with disabilities, derogatory language about LGBTQ+ people and language appearing to allude to a racial slur surfaced online. — Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

This may involve following an order from inception to fulfillment; even a delivery exception or a refund can reveal inherent dependencies that haven’t been explored but will surface during implementation. — Chris Dunn, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 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

Phrases Containing surface

• on the surface