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
These may include walking the dog or walking leisurely on flat surfaces. Md Published, Verywell Health, 26 June 2025 Guillemots flap-splashed away across the smooth surface of the bay. James Rebanks june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Verb
Not long afterward, as headlines around Iranian missile attacks in Israel surfaced, losses in the stock market picked up steam. Kevin Stankiewicz,natasha Abellard, CNBC, 13 June 2025 The database, stolen from AT&T in 2024, has surfaced online after hackers appeared to sell it to Russian cybercriminals, according to Hackread.com. Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 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
  • Another common misstep is ignoring undertones, which can result in clashing colors that disrupt the overall harmony of your exterior.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 June 2025
  • Glow in the Dark Cars MBUX Fluid Light Paint coats the exterior of the Concept AMG GT XX.
    Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Outlook for the region In emerging markets such as those in Southeast Asia where labor costs are low, companies may feel less motivated to boost efficiency through adoption of technology.
    Bernice Ooi, CNBC, 26 June 2025
  • That automation was a strong sticking point in the negotiations is likely representative of the fact that, nationally, unions are paying strong attention to the possibility for emerging technologies, including AI, to disrupt their standard work patterns.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • According to recent Companies House filings, Aspinal of London saw revenues rise 9 percent to 38.6 million pounds in the year ending March 31, 2024, while adjusted EBITDA for the period registered a 27.4 percent fall to 5.3 million pounds.
    Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 June 2025
  • The shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses this past weekend are the latest instances of political violence that has risen across the U.S. in recent years.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • By proactively identifying and mitigating potential data pitfalls and by diligently implementing these four key strategies, product strategy teams can transition from having a superficial reliance on data to a deep and comprehensive mastery of it.
    Ramalakshmi Murugan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Yet the superficial script lets the actors and crew members down.
    Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • The interim appointment places Díaz at the front of the line to become UWF president.
    Dara Kam, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2025
  • But on another front, leaders abandoned a statement on the Ukraine war due to resistance from the United States.
    Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Suddenly Flips First, in diversity of citizenship cases (as here), the federal courts will apply their own procedural rules but they are also required to apply the substantive rules of the state from where the action arises.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • The summer solstice occurs because of a 23.5 degree tilt in Earth's rotational axis that may have arisen when an ancient Mars-sized body slammed into our planet billions of years ago, triggering the formation of our moon.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • The viral clip, which has garnered over 188,000 views since it was posted on June 23, shows the whales moving helplessly in shallow waters.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • The species typically lives in shallow freshwater ecosystems with muddy or silty floors.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • At a meeting Tuesday morning, Collier County commissioners appeared to have been caught off guard by the state’s plans for the Everglades airfield.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 June 2025
  • Iran's retaliatory strikes on Monday at the largest U.S. military base in the region appeared to offer an off-ramp to Trump and the United States to prevent further escalation -- something Trump embraced in his social media response to the attacks.
    Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surface. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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