surfacing

American

[sur-fuh-sing] / ˈsɜr fə sɪŋ /

noun

the action or process of giving a finished surface to something.
the material with which something is surfaced.
the act or an instance of rising to the surface of a body of water.

Etymology

Origin of surfacing

First recorded in 1855–60; surface + -ing ¹

Vocabulary lists containing surfacing

Developing

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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.

The issues surfacing in Little Lake echo the dynamic in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Within hours of the accusations surfacing on Friday, he lost the backing of prominent supporters for his gubernatorial run and many of his staff members resigned.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

The move is aimed at streamlining the pre-dispute process and prevent disputes by surfacing transaction details, improve confidence in dispute resolution outcomes, and unify dispute workflows into a centralized platform.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

One perceived obstacle keeps surfacing in conversations at CERAWeek: the process of obtaining permits for building or expanding energy infrastructure.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

The scene kept surfacing in my memory like lightning on a dark rainy night, and each time it happened, I heard a sharp cry in my head that made my spine hurt.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023