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face

[ feys ]

/ feɪs /

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See synonyms for: face / faced / faces / facing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin.

a look or expression on the front part of the head: She wore a sad face.

a contorted expression or look that indicates ridicule, disgust, etc.; grimace: Go to bed right now, and don't you give me that face.

cosmetics; makeup: Excuse me while I go to the powder room to put on my face.

impudence; boldness: It shocks me that you'd have the face to ask such a rude question.

outward appearance: These are just old problems with new faces.

someone who represents or speaks on behalf of a company or product; spokesperson: Steve Jobs was the face of Apple computers.

outward show or pretense, especially as a means of preserving one's dignity or of concealing a detrimental fact, condition, etc.: Though shamed beyond words, he managed to show a bold face.

good reputation; standing; prestige: They hushed up the family scandal to preserve face.

the amount specified in a bill or note, exclusive of interest.

the manifest sense or express terms, as of a document.

the geographic characteristics or general appearance of a land surface.

the surface: the face of the earth.

the side, or part of a side, upon which the use of a thing depends:the clock's face;the face of a playing card.

the most important or most frequently seen side; front: the face of a building.

the outer or upper side of a fabric; right side.

the acting, striking, or working surface of an implement, tool, etc.

Geometry. any of the bounding surfaces of a solid figure: A cube has six faces.

Also called ba·by·face

[bey-bee-feys] /ˈbeɪ bi ˌfeɪs/ .Professional Wrestling. a headlining wrestler who plays a heroic character and typically wins matches against the wrestler playing a villainous role.Compare heel³ (def. 2).

Also called work·ing face

[wur-king feys] /ˈwɜr kɪŋ ˌfeɪs/ .Mining. the front or end of a drift or excavation, where the material is being or was last mined.

Printing.

the working surface of a type, of a plate, etc.
Also called type·face [tahyp-feys], /ˈtaɪpˌfeɪs/, type·style [tahyp-stahyl] /ˈtaɪpˌstaɪl/ . any design of type, including a full range of characters, as letters, numbers, and marks of punctuation, in all sizes: Garamond is one of the most popular faces.
Also called type·face, type·style . the general style or appearance of type: broad or narrow face.

Nautical, Aeronautics. the rear or after side of a propeller blade (opposed to back¹ def. 12).

Fortification. either of the two outer sides that form the salient angle of a bastion or the like.

Crystallography. any of the plane surfaces of a crystal.

Electronics. faceplate (def. 3).

Archaic. sight; presence: to flee from the face of the enemy.

verb (used with object), faced, fac·ing.

to look toward or in the direction of: When speaking, remember to face the light.

to have the front toward or permit a view of: The building faces Fifth Avenue.The bedroom faces the park.

to confront directly: to be faced with a problem;to face the future confidently.

to confront courageously, boldly, or impudently (usually followed by down or out): He could always face down his detractors.

to oppose or to meet defiantly: We face fearful odds in this battle.Army faces Navy in today's football game.

to cover or partly cover with a different material in front: They faced the old wooden house with brick.

to finish the edge of a garment with facing, a piece of fabric added for ornament or strengthening.

to turn the front of (a playing card) upward.

to dress or smooth the surface of (a stone or the like).

to cause (soldiers) to turn to the right, left, or in the opposite direction.

Ice Hockey. (of a referee) to put (the puck) in play by dropping it between two opposing players each having a stick on the ice and facing the goal of the opponent.

verb (used without object), faced, fac·ing.

to turn or be turned (often followed by to or toward): She faced toward the sea.

to be placed with the front in a certain direction (often followed by on, to, or toward): The house faces on the street.The barn faces south.

to turn to the right, left, or in the opposite direction: Left face!

Ice Hockey. to face the puck; put the puck in play (often followed by off).

Verb Phrases

face down, to confront boldly or intimidate (an opponent, critic, etc.).

face off,

to confront, fight, or compete against each other as opponents: The presidential nominees will face off at the debates tomorrow night.
Ice Hockey. to start a game or period by dropping the puck into play between two opposing players.

face up to,

to acknowledge; admit: to face up to the facts.
to meet courageously; confront: He refused to face up to his problems.

OTHER WORDS FOR face

2 appearance, countenance, aspect; mien.

8 exterior.

15 facade.

32 veneer.

See synonyms for face on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about face

face the music. music (def. 9).

face to face,

facing or opposite one another: We sat face to face at the table.
in an open, personal meeting or confrontation: The leaders spoke face to face about a reduction in nuclear arms.

face to face with, in close proximity to; narrowly escaping; confronting: face to face with death.

fly in the face of. fly² (def. 35).

get out of someone's face,Informal. to go away and stop annoying or badgering someone (usually used imperatively); leave someone in peace: Get out of my face, I'm busy here!I know I have to pay up, I just wish they'd get out of my face about it.

in someone’s face,

in a confrontational way that shows annoyance or contempt: When I asked for money, he just laughed in my face.
Informal. confrontational toward someone, as by criticizing or annoying persistently: My dad got in my face about my bad grades.

in the face of,

in spite of; notwithstanding: She persevered in the face of many obstacles.
when confronted with: They were steadfast in the face of disaster.

in your face, Informal. See entry at in your face.

lose face, to suffer disgrace, humiliation, or embarrassment: It was impossible to apologize publicly without losing face.

make a face, to grimace, as in distaste or contempt; contort one's face in order to convey a feeling or to amuse another: She made a face when she was told the work wasn't finished.The children made me laugh by making faces.

on the face of it, to outward appearances; superficially; seemingly: On the face of it, there was no hope for a comeback.

put on a bold face, to give the appearance of confidence or assurance: Everyone knew that he had been fired, even though he put on a bold face.Also put a bold face on .

save face, to avoid disgrace, humiliation, or embarrassment: She tried to save face by saying that the bill had never arrived.

set one's face against, to disapprove strongly of; oppose: My dad has set his face against my becoming an actress.

show one's face, to make an appearance; be seen: I would be ashamed to show my face in such an outlandish outfit.Just show your face at the party and then you can leave.

to one's face, in one's presence; brazenly; directly: Tell him to his face that he's a liar!

Origin of face

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun face, fas, from Anglo-French, Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin facia, for Latin faciēs “appearance” (see facies); verb derivative of the noun

synonym study for face

1. Face, countenance, visage refer to the front of the (usually human) head. The face is the combination of the features: a face with broad cheekbones. Countenance, a more formal word, denotes the face as it is affected by or reveals the state of mind, and hence often signifies the look or expression on the face: a thoughtful countenance. Visage, still more formal, refers to the face as seen in a certain aspect, especially as revealing seriousness or severity: a stern visage.

OTHER WORDS FROM face

face·a·ble, adjectivesub·face, nounun·der·face, nounun·der·face, verb (used with object), un·der·faced, un·der·fac·ing.

un·face·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby face

fabulist, fabulous, fac., facade, facadism, face, face-ache, face angle, facebar, Facebook, face bow

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT FACE

What is a basic definition of face?

Face refers to the front of the head, from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin. Face also refers to an expression that someone makes using their face. Face is also used as a verb to mean to confront something directly. Face has a large number of other senses as a noun and a verb.

Your face consists of your forehead, eyebrows, eyes, eyelashes, nose, cheeks, mouth, lips, chin, and any facial hair, freckles, or other marks on the front of your head. Your ears may or may not be considered part of your face.

The word face usually refers to a human head, but it’s also used to describe the front of the head of animals that have features similar to a human face, such as cats and apes.

Real-life examples: You have a face. Halloween masks often resemble ugly or scary faces. Clowns like to throw pies at people’s faces.
Used in a sentence: The actor could see many familiar faces in the audience.

The word face also refers to an expression or appearance that a person creates using their face.

Real-life examples: Parents make funny faces to make their children laugh. A smiling person has a happy face. Horror movies cause many people to make a scared face.
Used in a sentence: Gretchen puts on a happy face even when she feels sad.

As a verb, face is used to mean to confront someone or something directly. If you face your fears, you are trying to deal with them instead of ignoring them. Sometimes, face is used in a similar sense to specifically mean you are confronting an enemy. Criminals, for example, are often forced to face justice even though they really don’t want to.

Real-life examples: People are often faced with problems and obstacles they must solve. Experts often tell people to face the facts and not ignore or deny them.
Used in a sentence: Roger had to face the harsh reality that his girlfriend had left him.

Where does face come from?

The first records of face come from around 1250. The noun ultimately comes from the Latin faciēs, meaning “appearance.” The verb comes from the late Middle English verb facen, which comes from the noun.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to face?

faceless (adjective)
facer (noun)
faceable (adjective)
subface (noun)
underface (noun, verb)
unfaceable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for face?

What are some words that share a root or word element with face?

What are some words that often get used in discussing face?

How is face used in real life?

Face is a very common word that most often refers to the front of a person’s head.

Face the future fearlessly, understanding the process and seeing the perfection of all of it.

— Neale Donald Walsch (@realNDWalsch) November 30, 2020

I want clear skin but I touch my face all the time😭

— Jauhara Vally (@JauharaV) December 1, 2020

Some people say that when I make an angry face I start looking like a shark :/

— Sam (@SamGolbach) August 3, 2016

Try using face!

Which of the following is not part of a person’s face?

A. mouth
B. neck
C. eyes
D. chin

How to use face in a sentence

In the post, featuring a picture of the two hugging closely with smiles plastered on their faces, the Next Friday star lamented his father’s passing and expressed gratitude for the memories they shared.
Mike Epps Mourns The Loss Of His Father Weeks After His Mother’s Passing|Brande Victorian|February 12, 2021|Essence.com
It takes fearlessness to go head to head with a giant company, but it’s important to stand up in the face of what can be overwhelming.
A feminine wash for teens? Angry parents and gynecologists are on a social media crusade.|Abigail Higgins|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
There’s the pain in Coach Mark Few’s face on ESPN in March when the tournament cancellation happened, his smashing team done at 31-2.
College basketball’s kingdoms have gone haywire — in case you just started paying attention|Chuck Culpepper|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
I normally connect with a guy face to face, which makes the interaction more organic.
Meet D.C.’s Most Eligible LGBTQ Singles|Staff reports|February 11, 2021|Washington Blade

When you breathe in, you should feel suction up against your face.
Masks should fit better or be doubled up to protect against coronavirus variants, CDC says|Lena H. Sun, Fenit Nirappil|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Cassandra, whose hair has already begun to fall out from her court-mandated chemotherapy, could face a similar outcome.
Should Teens Have The Right To Die?|Brandy Zadrozny|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They know they will face either a swift backlash or deafening silence.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They are to face oppression with humble persistence and absolute conviction.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She narrowed her eyes, bit her lip as if to chew over the question, and whisked some stray blond hairs away from her face.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is most peculiar, and when he plays that way, the most bewitching little expression comes over his face.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Bernard stood there face to face with Mrs. Vivian, whose eyes seemed to plead with him more than ever.
Confidence|Henry James
A Yankee, whose face had been mauled in a pot-house brawl, assured General Jackson that he had received his scars in battle.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
With a suffocating gasp, she fell back into the chair on which she sat, and covered her face with her hands.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden

British Dictionary definitions for face (1 of 2)

face

/ (feɪs) /

noun

the front of the head from the forehead to the lower jaw; visage
(as modifier)face flannel; face cream

the expression of the countenance; looka sad face
a distorted expression, esp to indicate disgust; grimaceshe made a face

informal make-up (esp in the phrase put one's face on)

outward appearancethe face of the countryside is changing

appearance or pretence (esp in the phrases put a bold, good, bad, etc, face on)

worth in the eyes of others; dignity (esp in the phrases lose or save face)

informal impudence or effrontery

the main side of an object, building, etc, or the frontthe face of a palace; a cliff face

the marked surface of an instrument, esp the dial of a timepiece

the functional or working side of an object, as of a tool or playing card

the exposed area of a mine from which coal, ore, etc, may be mined
(as modifier)face worker

the uppermost part or surfacethe face of the earth

Also called: side any one of the plane surfaces of a crystal or other solid figure

mountaineering a steep side of a mountain, bounded by ridges

either of the surfaces of a coin, esp the one that bears the head of a ruler

British slang a well-known or important person

Also called: typeface printing

the printing surface of any type character
the style, the design, or sometimes the size of any type fount
the print made from type

nautical aeronautics the aft or near side of a propeller blade

fly in the face of to act in defiance of

in one's face directly opposite or against one

in face of or in the face of despite

look someone in the face to look directly at a person without fear or shame

on the face of it to all appearances

set one's face against to oppose with determination

show one's face to make an appearance

shut one's face slang (often imperative) to be silent

to someone's face in someone's presence; directly and openlyI told him the truth to his face

until one is blue in the face informal to the utmost degree; indefinitely

verb

(when intr, often foll by to, towards, or on) to look or be situated or placed (in a specified direction)the house faces on the square

to be oppositefacing page 9

(tr) to meet or be confronted byin his work he faces many problems

(tr) to accept or deal with somethinglet's face it, you're finished

(tr) to provide with a surface of a different materialthe cuffs were faced with velvet

to dress the surface of (stone or other material)

(tr) to expose (a card) with the face uppermost

military, mainly US to order (a formation) to turn in a certain direction or (of a formation) to turn as requiredright face!

ice hockey

(of the referee) to drop (the puck) between two opposing players, as when starting or restarting playSee also face-off
to start or restart play in this manner

face the music informal to confront the consequences of one's actions

See also face down, face out, face up to

Derived forms of face

faceable, adjective

Word Origin for face

C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin facia (unattested), from Latin faciēs form, related to facere to make

British Dictionary definitions for face (2 of 2)

FACE

abbreviation for

Fellow of the Australian College of Education

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for face

face

[ fās ]

A plane surface of a geometric solid. A cube has 6 faces; a dodecahedron, 12.

Any of the surfaces of a rock or crystal.

Other Idioms and Phrases with face

face

In addition to the idioms beginning with face

face down
face it
face the music
face to face
face up
face up to
face value
face with

also see:

at face value
blue in the face
brave face
do an about-face
egg on one's face
feed one's face
fly in the face of
hide one's face
in someone's face
in the face of
in your face
keep a straight face
laugh out of the other side of one's mouth (face)
long face
look someone in the face
lose face
make a face
on the face of it
plain as day (the nose on your face)
poker face
put one's face on
red in the face
save face
set one's face against
show one's face
slap in the face
stare in the face
stuff one's face
talk one's arm off (until blue in the face)
throw in someone's face
to someone's face

face

OTHER WORDS FOR face

Idioms about face

Origin of face

synonym study for face

OTHER WORDS FROM face

Words nearby face

MORE ABOUT FACE

What is a basic definition of face?

Where does face come from?

Did you know … ?

How is face used in real life?

Try using face!

Words related to face

How to use face in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for face (1 of 2)

Derived forms of face

Word Origin for face

British Dictionary definitions for face (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for face

Other Idioms and Phrases with face