resurface

verb

re·​sur·​face (ˌ)rē-ˈsər-fəs How to pronounce resurface (audio)
resurfaced; resurfacing; resurfaces
Synonyms of resurfacenext

transitive verb

: to provide with a new or fresh surface
resurface skin by dermabrasion

intransitive verb

: to come again to the surface (as of the water)
broadly : reappear
resurfacer
(ˌ)rē-ˈsər-fə-sər How to pronounce resurface (audio)
noun

Examples of resurface in a Sentence

A few of the writer's journals have resurfaced. His resentment toward her resurfaced. The road needs to be resurfaced.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As Sportico previously reported, that history resurfaced last year following comments made by Ghislaine Maxwell, the incarcerated associate of Jeffrey Epstein. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2026 In prior internal meetings and emails, staff and consultants had criticized Citation’s water sampling practices as biased in favor of the company’s conclusion that rainfall was causing old pollution to resurface. — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026 Fifty-seven years later, the cape has resurfaced in front of the paparazzi at a major party. — Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 25 Oct. 2026 Toufic’s vampire-mirror idea resurfaces too in other works of Raad’s on display in Venice, alongside the Arafat pieces. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for resurface

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of resurface was in 1833

Rhymes for resurface

See All Rhymes for resurface

Browse Nearby Words

resupply
resurface
resurgam
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Resurface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resurface. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

resurface

verb
re·​sur·​face rē-ˈsər-fəs How to pronounce resurface (audio)
1
: to provide with a new or fresh surface
resurface the table
2
: to come again to the surface (as of water)
resurfacer
-fə-sər How to pronounce resurface (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on resurface

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for resurface

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All