on the surface

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 tipping point was, on the surface, a typical small-town dispute.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's also an opportunity for us, maybe, to get our suits up there before the astronauts actually have to wear them on the surface of the Moon ... this is all going to help take down risk for a subsequent landing."

From BBC

Instead, what they’ve gotten is something far more puzzling: steady retail growth on the surface, paired with an extraordinary buildup of household savings underneath.

From MarketWatch

Lifestyle creep doesn’t always look reckless on the surface — sometimes it’s just a gym upgrade or a few extra dinners out.

From MarketWatch

On the surface, this might not seem like much of a crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal