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
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
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
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
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
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
-
Trending Video 3 Interior Designers Transform The Same Galley Kitchen The stainless steel exterior is smudge-resistant and minimalist, with hidden pocket handles.—
Bailey Berg,
Architectural Digest,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Its airtight construction, tempered glass windows, and ventless exterior were important to surviving the fires.—
Jennifer Castenson,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The six-person crew emerged from a staging hanger around 8:00 a.m. CDT with family and friends lining a small pathway, cheering and giving high-fives as the crew made their way to the launch site.—
Kevin Shalvey,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Noboa, a conservative young millionaire, and González both promised voters solutions to the extortions, killings, kidnappings and other crimes that became part of everyday life as the country emerged from the pandemic.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
14 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
-
When SpaceX missed its reservation on the range twice in two days, April 10 and 11, why didn't ULA move back to the front of the line?—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But some conservationists are expressing wide ranging concern about the unintended consequences that could arise as researchers continue to try and resurrect versions of extinct animals.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Your passion must propel you forward when obstacles arise.—
Jay Ruderman,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
These 36 words included anti-flag, betray, crisis, disgrace, failure, incompetent, liberal, radical, shallow, taxes, traitors, and welfare.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Although the Loire is France’s longest river, traditional river boats can’t ply its shallow waters.—
Jeri Clausing,
AFAR Media,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
After the risk assessment, the brothers will appear at independent parole board hearings on June 13, Newsom said.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
These concerns appeared to strike a chord—at least in part—with U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken, who brought up the issue several times during this week’s fairness hearing over whether to grant the settlement’s final approval.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surface. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share