TOP

Definition of face verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

face

verb
 
 
/feɪs/
 
/feɪs/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they face
 
/feɪs/
 
/feɪs/
he / she / it faces
 
/ˈfeɪsɪz/
 
/ˈfeɪsɪz/
past simple faced
 
/feɪst/
 
/feɪst/
past participle faced
 
/feɪst/
 
/feɪst/
-ing form facing
 
/ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
 
/ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
jump to other results

    be opposite

  1.  
     [transitive, intransitive] to be opposite somebody/something; to have your face or front pointing towards somebody/something or in a particular direction
    • face somebody/something She turned and faced him.
    • Most of the rooms face the sea.
    • They face each other across the aisle.
    • face + adv./prep. The terrace faces south.
    • a north-facing wall
    • a south-east-facing garden
    • to face outwards/inwards/upwards/downwards
    • Lie with your palms facing upwards.
    • Which direction are you facing?
    Extra Examples
    • The flower turns its head to face the sun.
    • The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition face each other across the dispatch box.
    • We pray facing the east.
    • Babies may prefer to be carried facing outwards.
    • The seating plan had the benches facing inwards toward the central aisle.
    • The bedrooms face onto the courtyard.
    • Stand with your feet apart and your hands facing upwards.
    • He lay on the ground, facing upwards.
    • A camera was attached to the ceiling facing downwards.
    • The back rooms face north and can be cold.
    Topics Buildingsb1

    2. somebody/something difficult

  2.  
     [transitive] if you face a particular situation, or it faces you, you have to deal with it
    • face something Farmers face serious challenges in these conditions.
    • We are facing a financial crisis.
    • to face charges/trial
    • the problems faced by homeless people
    • The project faces numerous difficulties.
    • They face competition from foreign imports.
    • She has faced criticism from some within her party.
    • We look at the issues facing schools today.
    • the challenges/problems that face the country
    • be faced with something We are faced with the prospect of defeat.
    Extra Examples
    • The party will have to change its policies to fit the new problems facing society.
    • These are just some of the challenges facing small businesses.
    • The main task facing the country is reconstruction after the war.
    • We face the prospect of defeat.
    • They are facing the threat of redundancy.
    • They are faced with the threat of redundancy.
    • The health service faces a crisis this winter.
    • The country is facing an obesity crisis.
    • We are faced with competition from young up-and-coming artists.
    • The government faces strong opposition to the cuts.
    • The manager is facing a lot of pressure this season.
    • Many believe the country faces a grim future.
    • I think they would feel differently if they were parents facing the same situation.
    • Whatever happens, we'll face it together.
    • We could all face higher fuel bills this winter.
    • She's faced with a difficult decision.
    • Several students now face expulsion.
    • She could face charges of fraud.
    • He is in custody facing criminal charges.
    • He was arrested and now faces a murder trial.
    • It's unlikely she will ever face trial.
    • They would have to take down the site or face heavy fines.
    • If convicted, he faces the death penalty.
    • On their journey across the desert they faced danger of all sorts.
  3.  
     [transitive] face something to accept that a difficult situation exists, although you would prefer not to
    • It's time to face reality—we failed.
    • It's not always easy to face the truth.
    • I did something wrong and I will face the consequences.
    • She had to face the fact that her life had changed forever.
    • Face facts—she isn't coming back.
    • Let's face it, we're not going to win.
    Extra Examples
    • The company was forced to face reality—there was no market for the product.
    • He wanted his son to face the harsh realities of life.
    • They refuse to face the fact that this isn't going to work.
    • You need to face the fact that she doesn't love you.
    • It's time to forget the past and face the future.
    • She doesn't seem able to face the situation.
    • We have to face it that things are going to take a lot longer than we planned.
    • Face it, nobody likes to be criticized.
  4.  
     [transitive] if you can’t face something unpleasant, you feel unable or unwilling to deal with it
    • face something I just can't face work today.
    • He wasn't able to face the washing up.
    • face doing something I can't face seeing them.
    • She could never face arguing with him.
    Extra Examples
    • I'd go, but I can't face getting up so early.
    • She couldn't face her yoga class this morning.
    • Some people just can't face parties.
    • I was planning to clean the car, but I can't face it.
    • I don't know how I'm going to be able to face telling them.
    • I just couldn't face doing it all again.
    • How can you face cleaning all that up?
  5. [transitive] face somebody to talk to or deal with somebody, even though this is difficult or unpleasant
    • How can I face Tom? He'll be so disappointed.
    6.

    cover surface

  6. [transitive, usually passive] to cover a surface with another material
    • (be) faced with something a brick building faced with stone
    7. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, based on Latin facies ‘form, appearance, face’.
Idioms
face the music
  1. (informal) to accept and deal with criticism or punishment for something you have done
    • The others all ran off, leaving me to face the music.
See face in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee face in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: face

Nearby words

previously
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
B1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day