surface

1 of 3

noun

sur·​face ˈsər-fəs 

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

surface

2 of 3

adjective

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

surface

3 of 3

verb

surfaced; surfacing

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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

Phrases

on the surface

: to all outward appearances

Synonyms

Noun

• exterior
• face
• outside
• shell
• skin
• veneer

Adjective

• skin-deep
• superficial

Verb

• arise
• come up
• crop (up)
• emerge
• materialize
• spring (up)

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

Noun

On the surface, that might be viewed as an obscene amount of money for a 32-year-old, who couldn't stay on the floor during the Paris Olympics. —Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

The swordfish lives at mid-level depths, while needlefish are found closer to the surface. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 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

The temptation to reduce head count, negotiate cheaper contracts or defer capital expenditures is strong, but such decisions often lead to cracks that may not show up immediately but will surface with time. —Pankaj Vasani, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

While diabetes patients applauded the price cuts, a more pressing need surfaced. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Middle French, from sur- + face face, from Old French — more at face

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1778, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing surface

• control surface
• ruled surface
• scratch the surface
• surface-active
• surface area
• surface mail
• surface of revolution
• surface-ripened
• surface structure
• surface tension
• surface-to-air
• surface-to-air missile
• surface-to-surface missile
• surface wave

Kids 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