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 hills, glittering with celebrity, seemed to symbolize a culture and people that existed largely on the surface.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
These receptors sit on the surface of cells and help them respond to signals from their surroundings.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
Each targets the same protein, called CD19, found on the surface of certain immune cells, in hopes of destroying the faulty cells driving the disease and giving the immune system a fresh start.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Bar some occasional uneven bounce, the Lord's pitch was much improved on the surface on which England beat New Zealand in June.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
This argument, on the surface, seems relatively straightforward, but there are actually many layers to it, some of which are quite problematic.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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