1
: the exterior or upper boundary of an object or body
on the surface of the water
the earth's surface
2
: a plane or curved two-dimensional locus of points (such as the boundary of a three-dimensional region)
plane surface
surface of a sphere
3
a
: the external or superficial aspect of something
trouble lurks below the surface
b
: an external part or layer
sanded the rough surfaces
1
a
: of, located on, or designed for use at the surface of something
b
: situated, transported, or employed on the surface of the earth
surface mail
surface vehicles
2
: appearing to be such on the surface only : superficial
surface friendships
surfaced; surfacing
1
: to give a surface to: such as
a
: to plane or make smooth
b
: to apply the surface layer to
surface a highway
2
: to bring to the surface
surface a sunken ship
1
: to work on or at the surface
2
: to come to the surface
3
: to come into public view : show up
letters that have recently surfaced
surfacer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of surface in a Sentence
Noun
The painting's surface is covered with fine cracks.
The bowl has a shiny surface.
The surface of wood was rough.
Be careful of icy surfaces on the roads.
Adjective
Despite the surface differences between the two candidates, they are very similar in most ways.
a surface stain on the wood that can easily be removed with a mild detergent
Verb
The whale surfaced and then dove back down.
The information surfaced many years later.
After several years, the actress surfaced in a comedy.
The road needs to be surfaced again.
Recent Examples on the Web
Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
And lastly clean surfaces regularly to prevent odor buildup.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Time, 11 Aug. 2023
The battery life alone (23 minutes and 30 seconds) makes this one of the best cordless vacuums, but there are some additional unique features that helped this Eureka multi-surface model stand out to us.
—Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2023
Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
The arrest does not appear to be related to the existing police investigation that surfaced publicly last month, but instead involves a reported victim who came forward after the scandal broke, sources told this news organization.
—Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surface 
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.
Noun
Topographic features on Earth’s surface, such as mountains and deep-sea trenches, also distort its shape slightly.
—Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
And lastly clean surfaces regularly to prevent odor buildup.
—Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Yet the show somehow manages to add depth to its seemingly surface sartorial choices.
—Time, 11 Aug. 2023
The battery life alone (23 minutes and 30 seconds) makes this one of the best cordless vacuums, but there are some additional unique features that helped this Eureka multi-surface model stand out to us.
—Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2023
Verb
As guidelines for massive online spaces like X have changed, so too do the conversations that are surfacing.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
The arrest does not appear to be related to the existing police investigation that surfaced publicly last month, but instead involves a reported victim who came forward after the scandal broke, sources told this news organization.
—Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surface
Articles Related to surface
Dictionary Entries Near surface
Cite this Entry
“Surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surface. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
surface
1 of 2 noun
sur·face
ˈsər-fəs 
1
: the outside of an object or body
on the surface of the water
the earth's surface
2
: any flat or curved two-dimensional area in space
the surface of a cube
3
: the outside appearance
on the surface the plan seems good
surface
adjective
surface
2 of 2 verb
surfaced; surfacing
1
a
: to make smooth
b
: to apply the surface layer to
surface a road
2
: to bring or come to the surface
3
: to come into public view
letters that recently surfaced
Medical Definition
surface
noun
sur·face
ˈsər-fəs
: the exterior or upper boundary of an object or body
the mesial and distal surfaces of a tooth
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share