Substantial batting contributions from Will Young and Lyndon James, followed by a successful bowling period led by Calvin Harrison, helped Nottinghamshire pile the pressure on Surrey ahead of the final day.
Notts ended their opening stint at the crease on 399, with Surrey finishing day three on 200/5 after a flurry of late wickets left the visitors in a commanding position.
Day three of the LV= County Championship offered an opportunity for Nottinghamshire to continue following a promising second day of cricket.
The visitors began a clear day at The Oval on 248/5, with Will Young partnering Brett Hutton, who was given the freedom to attack in the morning session.
The nightwatchman found five boundaries in the opening six overs of the day, with Young gathering one of his own during a combative early spell against the new ball.
Hutton gathered 23 forceful runs off 27 balls across the first half-hour of the match but was caught behind by Tom Latham off the bowling of Jordan Clark.
Lyndon James took two quick fours to help Notts pass 300 runs and claim a second batting bonus point.
The 24-year-old partnered Young, who found the first Nottinghamshire six of the match, floating a Jamie Overton bouncer over Worrall and the boundary to move Notts to 325/6.
However, that would be his last scoring action of his day, falling two overs later for an outstanding 145, on his first appearance in the whites of Nottinghamshire.
Calvin Harrison upped the tempo for the away team, whacking four boundaries before lunch to end the opening session of the day on 366/7.
James completed a marvellous half-century off 94 balls, but he and Paterson were taken in quick succession by the bowling of Abbott.
Jake Ball and Harrison battled to gain nine more runs before finishing on 399 all out, the latter on an unbeaten 32*.
Hutton exploded out of the traps, again removing Rory Burns for lbw in the first over, completing a wicket maiden off the next three balls.
The reduced Nottinghamshire bowling unit found the combination of Dom Sibley and Latham difficult, both Surrey batters reaching 86-ball half-centuries early in the evening session.
The partnership was slashed by Dane Paterson, who found the breakthrough when Latham clipped his delivery off outside edge, leaving wicket-keeper Moores to shuffle rightward and pouch to remove the New Zealand international for 60.
With renewed optimism, Harrison dismissed Jamie Smith in the next over; the right-handed batter lofting down Joe Clarke's throat to be sent back to the pavilion for two.
The Notts bowlers were getting closer to removing Sibley and Paterson took a mightily important catch, as the opener tried to loop Matthew Montgomery's delivery beyond the boundary.
Paterson was there to remarkably pluck the ball away from a six, travelling at great speed to dismiss Sibley for 83.
Notts managed another wicket with two overs left until the end of day three, Foakes getting an edge on Harrison's attempt which landed in Moores' gloves, providing the hosts with a challenge for the final day of the contest with Notts still to bat their second turn.
Jacks and Lawes saw out the day for Surrey on 19 and 2 respectively, as the Brown Caps ended play at 200/5.