Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

face

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
verb British English pronunciation: face /feɪs/ 
Word Forms
Close
present tense
I/you/we/theyface
he/she/itfaces
present participlefacing
past tensefaced
past participlefaced
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [transitive] to be opposite someone or something so that your face or front is towards them

    The two men faced each other across the table.

    I turned to face the sun.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of face
    1. a.
      [intransitive/transitive] if something faces in a particular direction, its front is pointing or turned in that direction
      face onto/towards/away from:

      The building faces onto a busy road.

      face upwards/downwards/inwards/outwards:

      Keep your hands by your sides with the palms facing inwards.

      face north/south etc:

      My dining room faces north.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of face
  2. 2
    [transitive] if you face a problem, or if it faces you, it is likely or certain to happen and you have to deal with it

    How to combine a career and children is a dilemma facing many women.

    be faced with/by something:

    The country is now faced with the prospect of war.

    face doing something:

    Many of the shipyard workers face losing their jobs.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of face
  3. 3

    face

     or

    face up to

     [transitive] to accept that a bad situation exists and try to deal with it

    We have to face the reality that, so far, the treaty has had little effect.

    I decided I must face up to the truth.

    face (up to) the fact that:

    She had to face the fact that she still missed him.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of face
  4. 4
    [transitive] to talk to someone or to deal with someone although this is difficult or embarrassing

    I'll never be able to face her again after what happened.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of face

phrases

This is the British English definition of face. View American English definition of face.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for face.

 

caxirola

a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

emancipation

the process of giving freedom and rights to someone

Open Dictionary

pierce the corporate veil

… the decision to treat the rights and duties of a company as being the same as the rights and duties of its shareholders

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog