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
Joseph Dempsey, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote in a January blog post that Pyongyang has only two principal surface combatants. Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025 Step 1: Vacuum Pet Bed Before machine washing a pet bed or pet bed cover, vacuum the surface to remove as much fur as possible. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
In the intervening years, other evidence surfaced, including an informant who implicated Ferguson in 1997 and again in 2016. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025 Dreyer, a smart hustler, often surfaces in the right place in key moments. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 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
  • The exterior is European flax linen and the feather-down insert with its organic cotton shell is the ideal medium firmness.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Inside are four credit card slots, a passport pocket, a SIM card slot, and a pen holder, while the exterior has a slim ticket sleeve for your boarding pass.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan had just finished speaking at a union convention and was emerging from the hotel when he was struck by a bullet from would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. .
    Major Garrett, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The same week these two spectacular images emerged, so did a study that suggested that heavy rain once fell on Mars.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • These luxe hydrogel eye masks, infused with antioxidant-rich colloidal gold and soothing rose damask extract, brighten and boost radiance in the delicate under-eye area.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Shortly after, Wood posted to her story again, this time sharing an April 2022 post from trans British artist Travis Alabanza that highlighted the attention put on trans people rather than other issues, such as the climate crisis or rising cost of living.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In both cases, the criticism is not completely superficial.
    Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The two who were shot suffered what police called superficial wounds and were hospitalized for their injuries.
    Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Players such as Tuch, who emerged as one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL this season, and Zucker, a reliable veteran who gets to the front of the net and plays a no-nonsense game, are vital pieces to a winning team.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Fact to know: A low-walled terrace added across the front of the home used original clinker brick to integrate new and existing materials.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The other is informal, arising from civil society, in which gangs, strongmen, vigilante groups, neighborhood watches, and political and religious organizations enforce norms, frequently through violence.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Montgomery County Public Schools, where the issue being contested arose, did not reply to TIME’s request for comment.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The earthquake had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey, with its epicenter about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara.
    Suzan Fraser, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
  • As the protagonist/antihero, audiences meet everyone through his eyes (and imperious narration) — and in his view, most people are shallow and irritating, especially the residents of Madre Linda.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Federal prosecutors also appeared to reveal today that Combs had rejected an apparent plea deal.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Still, the quarterback appears to be keeping a positive attitude and expects to be drafted on Friday.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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