face 1 of 2

verb

Definition of facenext
1
as in to front
to stand or sit with the face or front toward the house faces the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean

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2
as in to confront
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage movie superheroes who are ever ready to face danger without blinking an eye

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3
as in to clad
to cover with something that protects we decided to face our old frame house with aluminum siding

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4
as in to encounter
to enter into contest or conflict with the Boston Red Sox were eager to face their traditional rivals, the Yankees, in the play-offs

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face

2 of 2

noun

ˈfās How to pronounce face (audio)
1
as in looks
the front part of the head the criminal hid his face from the news cameras as he slumped into the patrol car

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2
as in front
a forward part or surface the face of the store building has been altered many times over the years to meet changing tastes and needs

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3
as in frown
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval it's rude to make a face when your dinner hostess offers you broccoli

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4
as in exterior
an outer part or layer a much-needed sandblasting revealed that the face of the old stone church is actually a pinkish granite

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5
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling a rainy day is no excuse for just moping around with a long face, so let's do something

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6
as in appearance
outward and often deceptive indication on the face of it, the country went to war for noble reasons

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7
as in person
a member of the human race I see they've hired some new faces

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8
as in gall
shameless boldness you have to wonder how anyone has the face to ask such a personal question

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9
as in assurance
a state of mind in which one is free from doubt he managed to maintain face despite the endless series of crises

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of face
Verb
Achieving complete reusability with an orbital rocket has never been done before, so SpaceX’s engineering team will undoubtedly face some significant hurdles. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 In 2024, a rebuilding project upgraded most of the camp’s guest-facing spaces to a higher level of luxury. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
Republicans have controlled Congress for the last two years, but face headwinds coming into the 2026 elections. — Dan Snyder, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Lake Mead and Lake Powell are the visible faces of the Southwest’s critical water problem, as the Colorado River — which supplies water to nearly 40 million people — shrinks due to a combination of climate change and human demand. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face
  1. front
  2. confront
  3. clad
  4. encounter
  5. looks
  6. facade
  7. frown
  8. exterior
Verb
  • And on the third floor, check out the event spaces including a grand terrace that fronts the High Line, where guests can watch the parkgoers and vice versa.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Conceived as a dialogue between the three master photographers, each bringing their own perspective on India, the calendar is fronted by nine women tied to the country – and then some.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of front
Verb
  • It’s been covered breathlessly on Instagram and by celebrity media — led by the former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush, who last Monday on his podcast described being confronted by Griffin at a wedding on the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The country is deeply polarized, increasingly castigated by the rest of the world, and confronting a resurgence of antisemitism.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of confront
Verb
  • Developer Pierre Delvaux incorporated local materials into the house, taking nine months to cut the volcanic rock from the Great Rift Valley used to clad the property.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Seed Studio Landscape Design used medium-width horizontal panels on the privacy fencing of this elegant backyard grill space and layered on thinner wood slats in the same warm tone to clad the outdoor kitchen.
    — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of clad
Verb
  • Working with other artists offers opportunities to exchange creative ideas, develop different sounds, and reach listeners who may not have previously encountered an artist’s music.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • At least four flight attendants were injured when a United flight heading to Los Angeles encountered turbulence during descent on Wednesday night.
    — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of encounter
Noun
  • This was especially important on Wildwood, which features a huge range of costumes; in the city sequences everyone is dressed in modern clothing, whereas in the forest characters have more fantastical looks.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Gap is one of the first mass brands to pursue a major integration, encouraging users to try on Gap products and share their looks within the app.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of looks
Noun
  • These boutiques offer distinct expressions of each house, while their facades contribute to a streetscape with an individual character.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Framed by concrete, the glass façade reflects its surroundings as well as the sky.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of facade
Noun
  • Among the terminated is a welder, Choi Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), who wears a frown so implacable that it might have been etched in steel.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The late-night host teasingly drew his face into a frown in order to copy Washington’s facial expression.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of frown
Noun
  • Beneath that Taylor Swift-loving exterior, there must be a Bin Laden fighting to get out.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • As head-turning as the concept’s exterior may be, its interior is where Sühlmann was best able to wed the brand’s past with its future.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of exterior

Phrases Containing face

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facades
face
faced
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Cite this Entry

“Face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about face

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