come back up again

resurface

verb|/riːˈsɜːr.fɪs/

Come up or bring up again after being absent

Examples

In a meeting

That issue keeps resurfacing in our quarterly reviews.

Over coffee

Old insecurities always resurface when I'm stressed.

Why this word

reappear

resurface specifically implies coming back up from below or emerging after being hidden/submerged, while reappear is vaguer about the manner of return

return

resurface emphasizes the previous absence or submersion, while return simply means coming back without that implication

emerge

resurface implies something had surfaced before and is doing so again, while emerge can be a first-time appearance

Usage tip

Use when something reappears after a period of absence or dormancy

Etymology

Latin 're' (again) + 'superficies' (surface)

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