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Synonyms

on the surface

Idioms  
  1. Superficially, to all outward appearances, as in On the surface he appeared brave and patriotic, but his troops knew better. [Early 1700s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Millipedes were feeding on decaying mosses, decomposed slime, and primordial gunk on the surface of the Earth."

From Science Daily • Jun. 14, 2026

Thus, on the surface, the lyrics of “Y.M.C.A.” seem to promote the Young Men’s Christian Association and their new single-room occupancy units of the time.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

On an even more ambitious note, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is pushing to develop nuclear energy on the surface of the moon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Playing on clay has never come easy for Boulter, who only won her first WTA Tour-level match on the surface last year - at the age of 28.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

Thus a chip of ebony, which is heavier than water, floats if placed on the surface of a bucket of water.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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