surface
SUR-fihs
Surface (noun) means the outer or top layer of something. Example: “Wipe the surface of the desk with a damp cloth before you start.”
noun
1
The outer or top layer of something.
"Wipe the surface of the desk with a damp cloth before you start."
"Dust had settled on the surface of the table."
"The surface of the lake was completely still."
2
How something appears from the outside, as opposed to what is really going on underneath.
"Beneath the calm surface, the two friends were quietly angry with each other."
"He seems cheerful on the surface, but he has been worried for weeks."
"On the surface, the deal looked like a good one."
verb
1
To rise up to the top, or to come to light after being hidden.
"Bubbles surfaced one by one as the diver slowly swam upwards."
"The submarine surfaced a mile from the coast."
"New evidence surfaced years after the trial ended."
How to use surface
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe outside layer of a thing, or figuratively, what shows on the outside versus what's really true.
Common mistake
"Scratch the surface" means to only partly explore or explain something — it doesn't mean to damage it.
Common pairings
scratch the surface
on the surface
surface tension
surface area
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Word forms
- Plural
- surfaces
- Third person singular
- surfaces
- Past tense
- surfaced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Wipe the _____ of the desk with a damp cloth before you start.
Etymology
Borrowed from French surface, itself built from sur- ("over") + face ("face") — literally the "over-face" of something.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for surface
See all rhymes for surface →Frequently asked questions
What does “surface” mean?
The word “surface” means the outer or top layer of something. In plain terms, the outside layer of a thing, or figuratively, what shows on the outside versus what's really true.
How do you pronounce “surface”?
“Surface” is pronounced SUR-fihs (/ˈsɜːfɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “surface” in a sentence?
Here is “surface” used in a sentence: “Dust had settled on the surface of the table.”
What is another word for “surface”?
Words with a similar meaning to “surface” include overside and superfice.
What part of speech is “surface”?
Depending on how it is used, “surface” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “surface” come from?
The word “surface” comes from French. Borrowed from French surface, itself built from sur- ("over") + face ("face") — literally the "over-face" of something.
Is “surface” a common word?
“Surface” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “surface” have?
“Surface” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the outer or top layer of something.
What does 'on the surface' mean?
Used figuratively, 'on the surface' means at first glance or judging only by outward appearance, before you look deeper. For example, 'on the surface the plan seems simple, but the details are tricky.' It contrasts the visible outer layer with what lies beneath, hinting that the reality may be different underneath.
What is the difference between a surface and an area?
A surface is the actual outer or top layer of an object — something you can touch, like a tabletop or the skin of an apple. Area is the measurement of how much space that surface covers, expressed in square units. So a surface is the thing itself; area is its measured size.
What is the opposite of surface?
Common opposites are interior, inside, core, centre, and depths. Where the surface is the outer or top layer, these words describe what lies beneath or within. Figuratively, the opposite of a surface impression is a deep or underlying truth — what you find when you look past the outside.
What is an example of a surface?
Everyday surfaces include a tabletop, a kitchen worktop, the surface of a lake, a road, a wall, or your skin. Any object has one — it is simply its outer or top layer. Surfaces can be smooth, rough, flat, or curved, and we constantly clean, paint, touch, and walk on them.
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