face
face — noun
- facesingular
- facesplural
1. the front side of a person's head, spanning from the hairline down past the eyeb
the front side of a person's head, spanning from the hairline down past the eyebrows, nose, and mouth, with the chin at the bottom
Chidi wiped the sweat from his face after the long run.
collocation: wipe [something] from your face
The baby's face lit up when she saw her mother enter the room.
collocation: face lit up (showing happiness)
Putri has a small scar on the right side of her face from a fall.
A warm smile spread across the old man's wrinkled face.
Wearing a helmet protects your face during a bike accident.
- on your face
- in your face
- wipe your face
- wash your face
- face shape
- familiar face
- features
more formal, often plural, refers to the individual parts of the face
- back of the head
the opposite side of the head
Usage Note
Can be used with possessive determiners (my face, his face) and with the definite article (the face). Frequently described with adjectives: round face, thin face, familiar face.
Common Mistakes
2. someone's facial appearance at a given moment, which reveals their inner mood or
someone's facial appearance at a given moment, which reveals their inner mood or emotion
Takeshi had a puzzled face when he heard the strange question.
collocation: [adjective] face (puzzled face / happy face)
The teacher's angry face told the class they were in trouble.
Olivia put on a brave face even though she felt very nervous inside.
idiom: put on a brave face
I could tell from his serious face that the news was bad.
The children's happy faces showed how excited they were about the trip.
- [adjective] face
- put on a [adjective] face
- a face of [emotion]
- expression
broader term, can also refer to the voice or eyes
- look
more informal, similar meaning
Usage Note
Often used with adjectives that describe emotion (happy face, sad face, angry face, serious face). The phrase 'put on a [adjective] face' means to show a feeling you may not truly have.
3. a twisted or unusual expression of the mouth and eyes that shows you dislike som
a twisted or unusual expression of the mouth and eyes that shows you dislike something or want to be funny
The little boy made a funny face when his mother gave him the medicine.
phrase: make a face / pull a face
Jude pulled a disgusted face after tasting the sour lemon.
phrase: pull a [adjective] face
Instead of answering, Mateo just made a silly face and everyone laughed.
Lien made a disgusted face when her mother offered her a bowl of cold soup.
- make a face
- pull a face
- funny face
- silly face
- disgusted face
- grimace
more formal, suggests pain or disgust specifically
- smile
a happy facial expression
Usage Note
Almost always used in the phrases 'make a face' or 'pull a face'. The adjective describes the type of expression: funny face, silly face, disgusted face, etc.
4. the front or outer side of an object, building, or natural structure
the front or outer side of an object, building, or natural structure
The northern face of the mountain is too steep for climbing in winter.
collocation: face of [mountain/cliff/building]
Workers cleaned the stone face of the old cathedral last spring.
Cracks appeared on the face of the dam after the heavy earthquake.
The southeast face of the building gets direct sunlight all morning.
- face of the [object]
- northern/southern face
- rock face
- cliff face
- back
the opposite side
Usage Note
Commonly used with 'of' to specify which object. Often found in geographical contexts (cliff face, mountain face) and architectural contexts (building face, wall face).
5. the round, flat surface on a time-keeping device where numerals, marks, and movi
the round, flat surface on a time-keeping device where numerals, marks, and moving indicators display the hour and minute
Élise checked the face of her watch to see if she was late for the meeting.
collocation: face of a watch/clock
The old clock had a white face with black Roman numerals.
Dust had collected on the face of the grandfather clock in the hallway.
The face of Amani's smartwatch showed a notification from her sister.
- watch face
- clock face
- face of the clock
- dial
more specific, refers to the numbered plate
Usage Note
Most commonly used for traditional analog clocks and watches. For digital displays, 'screen' or 'display' are more common.
6. the level of respect and good reputation that a person has among others, especia
the level of respect and good reputation that a person has among others, especially in social or professional settings
The manager was more concerned about losing face than about the actual mistake.
idiom: lose face
A diplomatically worded apology allowed both sides to save face during the negotiation.
idiom: save face
In many cultures, preserving one's face is considered more important than winning an argument.
The diplomat offered a small compromise so the other party could save face and accept the deal.
- lose face
- save face
- face-saving
- dignity
broader, refers to self-worth rather than social perception
- prestige
focuses on high status achieved through success
- reputation
what others think of you, not tied to specific phrases
- shame
loss of respect or honour
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively in fixed phrases: 'lose face' (lose respect/dignity), 'save face' (avoid losing respect), 'face-saving' (adjective). More common in formal and literary contexts. Very important in cross-cultural communication, especially in East Asian business settings.
7. used with an adjective to describe a particular kind of person, especially with
used with an adjective to describe a particular kind of person, especially with regard to their appearance or role
A few new faces joined the team after the company restructuring.
phrase: new face(s) — new person/people joining
Emre is a familiar face at the local library; he goes there every Saturday.
phrase: familiar face — someone you know or recognise
The restaurant owner greeted every regular face by name at the door.
Lucía was the youngest face in the room full of senior managers.
- new face
- familiar face
- regular face
- old face
- young face
Usage Note
Always preceded by an adjective (new, familiar, old, young, regular) or a possessive. Refers to the person as a whole, not literally their face. Common in workplace and social group contexts.
face up to
phrasal verbto bravely accept and deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation instead of avoiding it
Gita finally faced up to her fear of flying and booked a ticket to visit Tokyo.
The company needs to face up to the fact that its products are no longer popular.
face to face
idiomin a situation where two people are physically present and looking directly at each other
Putri preferred to discuss the issue face to face rather than over email.
The two leaders finally met face to face at the peace summit in Geneva.
lose face
idiomto lose the respect or good opinion that other people have of you, especially because of a public mistake or failure
The politician tried to avoid losing face by blaming his assistant for the error.
In some cultures, publicly criticising a colleague can cause them to lose face badly.
save face
idiomto avoid losing the respect of others by handling a difficult situation with care
Mateo offered a compromise that allowed both teams to save face after the failed project.
A quiet resignation was arranged so the director could save face and leave gracefully.
in the face of
idiomwhile being confronted with something difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant
Niran remained calm in the face of the sudden financial crisis.
The community showed great courage in the face of the natural disaster.
on the face of it
idiombased on what appears to be true at first, before examining something more carefully
On the face of it, the deal looked very attractive to the investors.
The proposal seemed simple on the face of it, but the details were very complex.
make / pull a face
idiomto produce an unusual, twisted expression with your mouth and eyes to show dislike, disgust, or to make someone laugh
The toddler made a cute face when the photographer pointed the camera at her.
Haruto pulled a disgusted face after accidentally biting into a sour plum.
face the music
idiomto accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of something you have done wrong
After weeks of lying about the missing money, Andrew finally had to face the music.
The CEO knew she would have to face the music at the shareholders' meeting.
let's face it
idiomused to introduce an honest statement about an unpleasant fact or situation that cannot be denied
Let's face it, none of us studied enough for the final exam.
The hotel is old and let's face it, the rooms really need to be renovated.
Something that is very obvious but you have not noticed.
The solution was staring Mia in the face, but she missed it.
Didn't you see the clue? It was staring you right in the face.
To be unable to avoid something unpleasant that is about to happen.
The team was staring defeat in the face after the third goal.
Are we staring bankruptcy in the face with these losses?
A feeling or thought is very clear from someone's expression.
Excitement was written all over Sara's face when she saw the gift.
You don't need to tell me; it's written all over your face.
A plan or action fails badly and causes harm to the person who did it.
His risky investment blew up in his face and he lost everything.
Did the prank blow up in your face when the teacher found out?
To do something out of anger that hurts yourself more than the person you want to hurt.
By quitting in protest, she cut off her nose to spite her face.
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face; accept the compromise.
To disappear completely, as if no longer existing.
After the scandal, the politician vanished off the face of the earth.
My keys have disappeared off the face of the earth; I can't find them.
To try very hard for a long time but without success.
You can argue till you're blue in the face, but I won't change my mind.
He practiced till he was blue in the face, but still failed the test.
Someone is accepted or rejected for a job based on their appearance or personality, not qualifications.
If your face fits, you'll get the job regardless of experience.
Her face didn't fit at the interview, so she wasn't hired.
Someone looks very angry.
Dad came home with a face like thunder after the meeting.
Why does she have a face like thunder? Did something happen?
Being close to and looking directly at another person.
The two leaders finally met face to face to discuss peace.
Have you ever come face to face with a wild animal?
In a situation where you must accept and deal with a difficult truth.
The accident brought him face to face with his own mortality.
She was finally face to face with the reality of her debt.
face up/down
idiomWith the front or back of the body or object facing upward or downward.
She lay face down on the grass, enjoying the sun.
Place the card face up on the table so everyone can see it.
To fall so that you are lying on your front, or to fail completely.
He slipped on the ice and fell flat on his face.
My attempt to impress her fell flat on its face.
feed your face
idiomTo eat a lot of food, often in a greedy way.
Stop feeding your face and save some for others.
After the hike, we all sat down to feed our faces.
To oppose or be the opposite of what is usual or expected.
His decision flies in the face of all our advice.
Does this theory fly in the face of established science?
To do something rude or disrespectful without feeling embarrassed.
She had the face to ask for a raise after being late every day.
How can you have the face to blame me for your mistake?
To be made to look foolish or embarrassed.
He was left with egg on his face after his prediction failed.
If you lie, you'll end up with egg all over your face.
in somebody’s face
idiomAnnoying someone by constantly criticizing or telling them what to do.
My boss is always in my face about my performance.
Why are you always in my face? Give me some space.
Despite problems, difficulties, or opposition.
She showed great courage in the face of danger.
The project continued in the face of strong criticism.
To show obvious disrespect for someone by laughing at them directly.
When I suggested the idea, he laughed in my face.
Don't laugh in her face; she's trying her best.
To go from being pleased to being disappointed or annoyed.
He'll be laughing on the other side of his face when he sees the bill.
You may laugh now, but you'll laugh on the other side of your face later.
To have an unhappy or disappointed expression.
Why the long face? Did you lose the game?
She wore a long face after hearing the bad news.
To look directly at someone without feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
Can you look me in the eye and tell me the truth?
He couldn't look her in the face after what he did.
loss of face
idiomThe state of losing respect from others or appearing foolish.
Failing the exam meant a serious loss of face for the student.
To avoid loss of face, he resigned before being fired.
Used to emphasize that someone has skills or qualities beyond their appearance.
She's not just a pretty face; she's a brilliant scientist.
I can fix the car too—I'm not just a pretty face.
Very obvious or easy to see.
The answer was as plain as day, but he still didn't get it.
Her dislike for him is as plain as the nose on your face.
To make an expression to show dislike or to make someone laugh.
The child made a face at the vegetables on his plate.
Stop pulling faces at me; it's rude.
put your face on
idiomTo apply makeup to your face.
I need five minutes to put my face on before we leave.
She always puts her face on before going to work.
To pretend to be confident and happy when you are not.
Despite the bad news, she put on a brave face for her children.
He put a brave face on his illness and continued working.
To avoid or help someone avoid embarrassment.
He resigned to save face after the scandal.
She saved her friend's face by taking the blame.
To be determined to oppose someone or something.
The committee has set its face against the new proposal.
My parents set their faces against my decision to travel alone.
show your face
idiomTo appear in public or among friends, especially after something embarrassing.
After the argument, he was too ashamed to show his face.
She finally showed her face at the party after months of hiding.
To close a door forcefully when someone is trying to enter, or to reject someone rudely.
The salesman slammed the door in my face when I knocked.
She shut the door in his face and never spoke to him again.
A rude way to tell someone to stop talking.
Shut your face! I've heard enough of your complaints.
He told his little brother to shut his mouth during the movie.
a slap in the face
idiomAn action that is meant to offend or show disrespect.
The company's decision to fire him was a slap in the face.
Her criticism felt like a slap in the face after all my hard work.
a straight face
idiomA serious expression without smiling or laughing, especially when something is funny.
He told the joke with a straight face, but we all laughed.
Can you keep a straight face while I tell you this story?
to somebody’s face
idiomSaying something directly to someone rather than behind their back.
I told him to his face that he was wrong.
She never says anything to my face, but gossips behind my back.
what’s his/her face
idiomUsed to refer to someone whose name you cannot remember.
I saw what's her face at the store yesterday.
Can you ask what's his face to fix the computer?
To destroy or remove someone or something completely.
The earthquake wiped the entire village off the face of the earth.
The company's new product wiped its competitors off the map.
face — verb
- facepresent simple I / you / we / they
- faces3rd person singular
- facing-ing form
- facedpast simple
1. to have a difficult or unpleasant situation that you must deal with
to have a difficult or unpleasant situation that you must deal with
Meera faced a difficult choice between studying abroad and staying with her family.
collocation: face a choice / decision / dilemma
Small businesses across the city face rising costs and fewer customers.
The hospital is facing a shortage of nurses this winter.
collocation: face a shortage / problem / challenge
When the earthquake struck, the rescue team faced huge challenges getting to the remote village.
The hardest thing a young doctor can face is losing a patient.
- face a problem
- face a challenge
- face a choice
- face difficulties
- face a crisis
- avoid
to stay away from a problem
Grammar Patterns
face + noun phrase (problem/difficulty/challenge)
Usage Note
The subject can be either a person or an organisation (company, hospital, government). The object is typically something negative: problem, challenge, difficulty, crisis, shortage, dilemma. NOT used in passive voice in this sense (we say 'the problem faces us', not 'we are faced by the problem').
Common Mistakes
2. to stop denying an uncomfortable reality and start responding to it in an honest
to stop denying an uncomfortable reality and start responding to it in an honest way
Hyun had to face the fact that his business was not going to succeed.
pattern: face the fact that [clause]
We need to face reality and accept that the project will take longer than expected.
collocation: face reality / face facts
Christopher could not face telling his parents that he had lost the scholarship.
Maria finally faced the truth about her partner's dishonesty and ended the relationship.
- face the truth
- face reality
- face facts
- face the fact that
- can't face
- accept
less emotional, does not carry the same weight of difficulty
- acknowledge
more formal, often public
Grammar Patterns
face + verb-ing
face + the fact that ...
Usage Note
Often used with 'can't / could not' to express emotional difficulty: 'I can't face another argument' or 'She couldn't face going back to work.' The object is frequently a that-clause introduced by 'the fact that' or a gerund (-ing form). This sense implies emotional effort, unlike sense 1 which is more neutral.
3. to feel that a task or event is so unpleasant that you lack the emotional streng
to feel that a task or event is so unpleasant that you lack the emotional strength to deal with it
After the long flight, Tamar could not face another hour of meetings.
pattern: can't face + noun phrase
Stephanie could not face cleaning the entire house by herself over the weekend.
I can't face listening to another long speech about company rules.
pattern: can't face + verb-ing
Harper simply could not face the thought of starting the whole project again from scratch.
- can't face
- couldn't face
- can't face the thought of
- dread
stronger, implies fear and anxiety about the future
- not be able to bear
more emphatic
- look forward to
to be excited about something
Grammar Patterns
cannot face + noun
cannot face + verb-ing
Usage Note
Almost always used with 'can't', 'couldn't', or 'cannot' in negative or interrogative sentences. The structure 'I can't face it' is very common in everyday spoken English. The 'it' refers to a previously mentioned task or situation. This sense differs from sense 2 in that it focuses on the emotional inability (too unpleasant) rather than on accepting a truth.
Common Mistakes
4. to deal directly with someone in a difficult or confrontational situation, witho
to deal directly with someone in a difficult or confrontational situation, without avoiding them
Amani decided she had to face her manager and discuss the unfair workload.
pattern: face + person (to confront)
It takes courage to face a bully and tell them to stop.
The committee members were too nervous to face the angry residents at the public hearing.
Sade knew she had to face her brother about the money he had borrowed without asking.
- face someone directly
- face someone about something
- have the courage to face
- confront
more direct and potentially aggressive
- stand up to
phrasal verb, suggests resisting someone more powerful
Grammar Patterns
face + person/situation
Usage Note
This sense is more formal than senses 1-3. It implies direct, personal confrontation — you are speaking to or dealing with the person causing the difficulty. The object is typically a person or group rather than an abstract concept.
5. to turn the front of your body or an object towards a particular direction or pe
to turn the front of your body or an object towards a particular direction or person; to be positioned looking at something
Please face the front of the classroom while the teacher is explaining the lesson.
pattern: face + direction
The living room window faces south, so the room stays warm all afternoon.
Esteban turned around to face the person who had called his name.
The hotel rooms on the top floor face the ocean directly.
Visitors sat on a bench facing the lake and watched the sunset.
- face south/north
- face the sea/ocean
- face the wall
- face the audience
- look towards
used for people, not for buildings
- overlook
implies a view from above, used for buildings and windows
- face away from
to have one's back to something
Grammar Patterns
face + direction/preposition
face + object
Usage Note
Can be used intransitively without an object ('the house faces south') or transitively with an object ('she faced the wall'). The subject can be a person, building, window, camera, or any object with a clear front side. Common with compass directions (north, south) and landmarks (the sea, the park, the street).
Common Mistakes
6. to add a new outer layer onto the front side of a structure or object, typically
to add a new outer layer onto the front side of a structure or object, typically using stone, brick, or another material
The old brick wall was faced with local grey stone to match the modern extension.
passive: be faced with [material]
The entrance hall is faced entirely with polished black granite.
The kitchen counter was faced with beautiful white marble tiles.
The wooden cabinets have been faced with a thin layer of oak veneer.
- faced with brick
- faced with stone
- faced with marble
- faced with wood
- strip
to remove the outer layer
Grammar Patterns
be faced with [material]
Usage Note
Most commonly used in the passive voice ('is faced with', 'was faced with'). The material used for covering comes after 'with'. Very specific to construction, architecture, and interior design contexts. Unlikely to be needed by general learners below C1.
7. to meet and compete against an opponent or opposing team in a game, contest, or
to meet and compete against an opponent or opposing team in a game, contest, or conflict
The Taiwanese baseball team will face Japan in the championship final on Sunday.
pattern: face + opponent in competition
Sade prepared carefully for weeks before facing her rival in the chess tournament.
The two candidates will face each other in a live debate next Tuesday evening.
After defeating three strong opponents, the team now faces the league champions.
- face an opponent
- face a rival
- face a team
- face in the final
- play against
less formal, specific to sports
- take on
informal, suggests a challenge
- meet
neutral, common in sports
- avoid
to stay away from competition
Grammar Patterns
face + opponent/team
Usage Note
Common in sports reporting, political debates, and competition contexts. The object is the opponent, team, or rival. Can also be used in military contexts ('face the enemy'). Frequently seen in news headlines and sports commentary.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words describe meeting a problem or difficulty, but they differ in register and connotation. 'Face' (B2) is the most neutral and common, used in everyday speech and writing: 'Small businesses face rising costs.' 'Confront' (C1) is more formal and implies active, determined opposition: 'The government must confront the housing crisis head-on.' 'Encounter' (B2) is the most neutral of the group and can be positive or negative; it simply means to come across something: 'The team encountered unexpected delays.' 'Deal with' (B2) focuses on the action taken after meeting the problem: 'We need to deal with this issue before it gets worse.' In short: you face what is coming, you confront what you oppose, you encounter what you come across, and you deal with what you handle. For example: 'The doctor faced an ethical dilemma, confronted the hospital board, encountered resistance from colleagues, and finally dealt with the situation by referring the patient to a specialist.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'face' entered English from Old French 'face', which came from Latin 'facies' meaning 'form, appearance, or shape'. In Latin, 'facies' originally described the whole form or figure of something before narrowing to mean the front part of the head. The sense of 'appearance' or 'outward look' carried over into English, which later gave rise to the metaphorical meanings about reputation and dignity (lose face, save face). The verb form developed from the noun in the 15th century, first meaning 'to have the face toward' and later taking on the metaphorical sense of 'to confront'.