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to resurface

to resurface

34 4.2
To appear again after being hidden or inactive
  • verb
  • /ˌriːˈsɜːrfɪs/
translation icon : reaparecer
  • Despite trying to forget the past, emotions from her old relationship started to resurface during their encounter.
  • resurface again
  • resurface later
  • begin to resurface

But now she's resurfaced and her hair is darker.

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Examples

  • As in Yugoslavia and Eastern Europe, past ethnic and political tensions are resurfacing in new forms.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Every few years, attention on him has resurfaced as new students discover his views.

    Academic text (2017)
  • And it's a it's an episode, her dream in which the whole issue of books will resurface again.

  • A lot of old feelings can resurface and...

  • His issues were bound to resurface.

  • And, when Dad passed away, memories of it started to resurface in fragments.

  • You can try to drown the truth in lies, but it will always resurface.

  • The PR executive who was believed dead in Michigan has resurfaced.

  • Here, old quarrels are also resurfacing, and the course of future events is unlikely to prove smooth.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Abstract: Natural-resource-based export-oriented growth strategies have resurfaced as the dominant development approach in Latin America.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

to appear
vsto resurface
873 1.0

To come into view or become visible

adds the idea of coming back after a period of absence or hiding
to emerge
vsto resurface
249 3.5

To come out from behind or under something and become visible

focuses on returning into view after being hidden or inactive
to turn up
vsto resurface
177 2.0

To appear after being lost or when not expected

emphasizes return after hiding or inactivity rather than surprise arrival
to revive
vsto resurface
104 4.2

Make something active or popular again after a time of being forgotten

describes spontaneous return to visibility or activity without external revival action
to reappear
vsto resurface
70 2.7

To come back into sight after being away for a time

also covers both literal returns and figurative or metaphorical returns
to reemerge
vsto resurface
8 4.1

To appear again after being away or hidden

stresses return to visibility whether literal or inactive rather than new arrival
to rematerialize
vsto resurface
  • US
4 9.3

To appear again after being gone or invisible

is broader, used for visible returns both physically and figuratively
to respawn
vsto resurface
  • Jargon
2 6.4

To appear again in the game after being defeated

is the general idea of becoming visible again outside specific gaming contexts
to resurge
vsto resurface
1 7.4

To become active again after a slow or quiet time

expects return to visibility or presence rather than mainly activity levels

Antonyms

1.0

To stop being seen or to no longer be there

How Visible

to uncover
37 2.7
to resurface
34 4.2
to reappear
70 2.7

Surface Forms

resurface infinitive
resurfaced past
resurfaced past participle
resurfacing present participle
resurfaces third person singular

Morphology

resurface = surface (transparent) = re + surface

The prefix 're-' keeps its ordinary meaning 'again', so 'resurface' straightforwardly means 'surface again'.

Etymology

Resurface comes from the parts re- 'again' and surface 'top layer', so imagine a diver coming up to the water's surface again. That's why to resurface means to appear or become visible again.