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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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 illness can spread through coughs, sneezes and infected surfaces. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 The shoe’s neutral design features just the right amount of cushioning that helps keep you stable across different surfaces, and its mesh upper keeps your feet cool and dry. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026
Verb
Her husband is jubilant at her return, but her friend Cee reacts very differently, and old grievances surface as the true price of Helen’s departure comes into focus. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026 The Panthers’ pivot to Markstrom surfaced after talks with starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stalled. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Adjective
Further, healthy conflict serves to challenge assumptions, surface unintended consequences and improve strategic judgment. — Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 Audiences Were Never in One Place The shift toward multi-surface creation isn’t just happening on the creator side. — Stephanie Hind, Rolling Stone, 1 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
  • Save big and add a sophisticated touch to your home’s exteriors with up to 30% off during Design Within Reach’s Fourth of July sale.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2026
  • Use the soap and vinegar solution to scrub the exterior of the trash can and rinse.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of exterior
Verb
  • Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman with no political background, emerged as a consensus candidate in Iraq after months of deadlock over the premiership following last year’s parliamentary elections.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • Wilmington police say officers were monitoring a crowd when Skinner emerged from a house and pointed a gun at the group.
    — CBS News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of emerge
Verb
  • The combination of rising demand, tighter schedules and growing sensitivity to pet welfare is pushing more people toward mobile options.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • Gifts from foundations, such as those backed by the Samueli and Sun families, rose by about 3%, despite huge gains in stock markets and other assets that typically boost the financial health of foundations.
    — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
Definition of rise
Adjective
  • Examples like sales phone time or the Wells Fargo scandal illustrate how focusing solely on numbers can distort behavior, leading to superficial achievements or even unethical practices.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • The performances of those groups might have resembled one another in some superficial way, but the individual politics of each do matter and shouldn’t be lumped together on account of aesthetics.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
Definition of superficial
Noun
  • The same gateway sits in front of Model Context Protocol servers, the standard way agents now discover and call tools.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Europeans will also be keen to put on a unified front publicly, particularly over defense spending, according to Franke.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of front
Verb
  • The controversial issue that arose on July 8 surrounded a police interview with Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 July 2026
  • The researchers say the inability of LLMs to provide the correct location is an inherent flaw that arises from training biases or from misinterpretations of instructions within the current context.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026
Definition of arise
Adjective
  • Currently, ocean data are gathered using massive research vessels that cannot safely navigate treacherous shallow reefs or breaking ice.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
  • This left distinctive marks on the bones, marks that were usually shallower, shorter, and wider than cut marks from stone tools.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
Definition of shallow
Verb
  • His embrace of the legislation marked a shift for the governor, who appeared uninterested in engaging with the corporate tax proposal as recently as May.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • Video of the incident appears to show Nelson getting into an altercation with another driver in a parking lot in Idaho.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of appear

Phrases Containing surface

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surf
surface
surfaced
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Cite this Entry

“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surface. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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