Which word means to rise or come up to the surface of water or ground?

The term that means to rise or come up to the surface of water or ground is "surface." This word specifically refers to the action of something moving upwards to become visible or to break through the surface layer of a liquid or solid. In the context of your question, when something surfaces, it is effectively transitioning from being submerged or hidden to becoming visible and accessible at the top level.

The other options relate to movement but aren't as directly linked to the specific action of rising to a surface. For instance, "float" implies remaining on the surface rather than rising, "ascend" generally suggests moving upwards but does not specifically reference rising to a surface, and "hover" indicates staying in one place at a certain height rather than moving up to a surface. Thus, "surface" is the term that precisely captures the described action.