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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surface
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Plant the parsley so the top of the root ball is flush with the soil surface, then lightly pack the soil around it and water.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 Feb. 2026
Over a year later, the scene of Jeffress’ prayer appears to have surfaced in the first lady’s new documentary, Melania.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
That, though, would be a gross misestimation of a car that is a complete sub-surface reinvention in the Blue Oval’s pursuit of the ultimate track horse.
—Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surface
Noun
Visible only to Hana at first, in convex reflective surfaces like a kettle or the back of a spoon, Bertha does not take kindly to Hana’s attempts to kick the pill habit and start policing her food intake the old-fashioned way.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Plant the parsley so the top of the root ball is flush with the soil surface, then lightly pack the soil around it and water.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
Some rumors that Annie’s husband, Tomasso Cioni, was a suspect in the disappearance had surfaced, but police were quick to shut those down.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 Feb. 2026
Over a year later, the scene of Jeffress’ prayer appears to have surfaced in the first lady’s new documentary, Melania.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Note that the multi-surface file, scissors and saw join the blade on the outside of the closed Alpha body, accessible without opening the plier handles.
—New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
That, though, would be a gross misestimation of a car that is a complete sub-surface reinvention in the Blue Oval’s pursuit of the ultimate track horse.
—Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surface
Noun
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Developers rescued the decorative cornice from the property’s previous building and worked it into the new exterior, giving the brand-new home an additional dose of historic gravitas.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
4 Feb. 2026
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The care-bot’s exterior is also softer to the touch than the humanoids designed for industrial tasks, with upholstery and foam padding.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As silicon scaling slows and energy costs climb, multiple alternative computing paradigms are emerging in parallel.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But since his 2016 debut, Bad Bunny has emerged as the leader of a new cohort of barrier-breaking artists, among them Karol G, J Balvin, Anitta and Peso Pluma, who are globalizing the genre and redefining crossover appeal with their fierce cultural pride.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Growth in services consumption outpacing goods expenditure largely reflects rising average income levels and would likely have occurred even without policy support, said Duncan Wrigley, chief China economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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As the temperature rose, Mccullough said some workers clocked off at lunchtime, and other businesses closed early.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The medical examiner’s report stated that Lunas Campos had scattered superficial abrasions on his body, hemorrhage in muscles and connective tissues on the neck, and signs of smaller hemorrhaging on the eyelids and skin of the neck.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
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For Julissa Prado, founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, these decisions are not superficial.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Elon’s controversial social media platform is under investigation on a number of fronts in Europe.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Commodities have become a front in this new Cold War.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The idea arose when, as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western artists began to write and create art about the preconditions and reasons behind Russia’s actions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This time around, aside from warding off mental demons that arose from her crash, Shiffrin, at 30, must also fight the indignities of age.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The world is overwhelmed with noise — outrage cycles, shallow takes, and a culture that rewards certainty over understanding.—
Daphne Koller,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In a third shallow dish place coconut.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Video footage that appeared to be taken at the scene captured loud blasts and the sky glowing following explosions that began around midnight and lasted about two hours in the area of Diori Hamani International Airport.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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In June, she was invited to appear before the Federal Trade Commission as a panelist to explain the harms of PGM from a consumer fraud perspective.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surface. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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