- 1[transitive, intransitive] to be opposite someone or something; to have your face or front pointing toward someone or something, or in a particular direction face somebody/something She turned and faced him. Most of the rooms face the ocean. + adv./prep. The terrace faces south. a north-facing wall Stand with your feet apart and your hands facing upward. Which direction are you facing?
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
someone or something difficult - 2[transitive] if you face a particular situation, or it faces you, you have to deal with it face something the problems faced by one-parent families The company is facing a financial crisis. be faced with something She's faced with a difficult decision.
- 3[transitive] face something to accept that a difficult situation exists, although you would prefer not to It's not always easy to face the truth. 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.
- 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. face doing something I can't face seeing them.
- 5[transitive] face somebody to talk to or deal with someone, even though this is difficult or unpleasant How can I face Tom? He'll be so disappointed. cover surface
- 6[transitive, usually passive] face something with something to cover a surface with another material a brick building faced with stone Idioms
face
verbNAmE//feɪs//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they face he / she / it faces
past simple faced
-ing form facing
to accept and deal with criticism or punishment for something you have done The others all ran off, leaving me to face the music. Phrasal Verbsface downface offface up to
Check pronunciation: face