Face Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Published on April 1, 2024
Face is the front part of a person's head, including the forehead, eyes, nose, and mouth. e.g., She washed her face every morning and evening.
Table of Contents
Face Definitions
The surface of a thing, especially one that is presented or viewed.
The face of the clock showed the correct time.
To confront and deal with or accept.
He faced his fears and spoke in front of the large crowd.
To be oriented toward.
The house faces the sea, offering stunning views.
To cover something with a surface or layer.
The walls were faced with stone for a rustic look.
In typography, the style or design of a font or type.
The document was set in a bold face for emphasis.
In card games, the side of the card that shows its value.
He laid the card face up on the table.
To turn towards someone or something.
She faced the audience, ready to begin her speech.
The surface of the front of the head from the top of the forehead to the base of the chin and from ear to ear.
A person
We saw many new faces on the first day of classes.
A person's countenance
A happy face.
A contorted facial expression; a grimace
Made a face at the prospect of eating lemons.
A countenance of a certain complexion or form. Used in combination
Babyface.
Frogface.
A person having such a countenance. Used in combination
Paleface.
Facial makeup
Put one's face on.
Facial makeup of a certain color, usually worn for the purpose of impersonating or mocking people of a particular racial or ethnic group. Used in combination
Applied blackface.
Assumed characteristics, such as clothing or behavior, intended to impersonate or mock people of a particular racial or ethnic group. Used in combination
Dressing up in yellowface.
Outward appearance
The modern face of the city.
Value or standing in the eyes of others; prestige
Did their best to save face after they were shown to be wrong.
Did not want to lose face by being unable to live up to his reputation.
Self-assurance; confidence
The team managed to maintain a firm face even in times of great adversity.
Effrontery; impudence
Had the face to question my judgment.
The surface presented to view; the front.
A façade.
Outer surface
The face of the earth.
A marked side
The face of a clock.
The face of a playing card.
The right side, as of fabric.
An exposed, often precipitous surface of rock.
A planar surface of a geometric solid.
Any of the surfaces of a rock or crystal.
The end, as of a mine or tunnel, at which work is advancing.
The appearance and geologic surface features of an area of land; topography.
A typeface or range of typefaces.
The raised printing surface of a piece of type.
To occupy a position with the face toward
Stood and faced the audience.
To front on
A window that faces the south.
To meet or confront with self-assurance
How can I face your parents when they know that I've let them down?.
To acknowledge and accept or deal with
Had to face the facts.
Must be willing to face our problems.
To be certain to encounter; have in store
An unskilled youth faces a difficult life.
To bring or to be brought face to face with
"The prospect of military conflict ... faced us with nightmarish choices" (Henry A. Kissinger).
To cause (troops) to change direction by giving a command.
(Games) To turn (a playing card) so that the face is up.
To furnish with a surface or cover of a different material
Bronze that is faced with gold foil.
To line or trim the edge of, especially with contrasting material
Face a hem with lace.
To treat the surface of so as to smooth.
To be turned or placed with the front toward a specified direction.
To turn the face in a specified direction.
(anatomy) The front part of the head of a human or other animal, featuring the eyes, nose, and mouth, and the surrounding area.
That girl has a pretty face.
The monkey pressed its face against the railings.
One's facial expression.
Why the sad face?
(in expressions such as 'make a face') A distorted facial expression; an expression of displeasure, insult, etc.
Children! Stop making faces at each other!
Image; outward appearance.
Our chairman is the face of this company.
He managed to show a bold face despite his embarrassment.
The frontal aspect of something.
The face of the cliff loomed above them.
An aspect of the character or nature of someone or something.
This is a face of her that we have not seen before.
Poverty is the ugly face of capitalism.
(figurative) presence; sight; front.
To fly in the face of danger
To speak before the face of God
The directed force of something.
They turned the boat into the face of the storm.
Reputation; standing, in the eyes of others; dignity; prestige. (See lose face, save face).
Confidence; boldness; effrontery.
You've got some face coming round here after what you've done.
Any surface, especially a front or outer one.
Put a big sign on each face of the building that can be seen from the road.
They climbed the north face of the mountain.
She wanted to wipe him off the face of the earth.
(geometry) Any of the flat bounding surfaces of a polyhedron; more generally, any of the bounding pieces of a polytope of any dimension.
The numbered dial of a clock or watch; the clock face.
(slang) The mouth.
Shut your face!
He's always stuffing his face with chips.
(slang) makeup; one's complete facial cosmetic application.
I'll be out in a sec. Just let me put on my face.
(metonymically) A person; the self; oneself.
It was just the usual faces at the pub tonight.
He better not show his face around here no more.
(informal) A familiar or well-known person; a member of a particular scene, such as the music or fashion scene.
He owned several local businesses and was a face around town.
A headlining wrestler with a persona embodying heroic or virtuous traits and who is regarded as a "good guy", especially one who is handsome and well-conditioned; a baby face.
The fans cheered on the face as he made his comeback.
(cricket) The front surface of a bat.
(golf) The part of a golf club that hits the ball.
(cards) The side of the card that shows its value (as opposed to the back side, which looks the same on all cards of the deck).
(heraldry) The head of a lion, shown face-on and cut off immediately behind the ears.
The width of a pulley, or the length of a cog from end to end.
A pulley or cog wheel of ten inches face
(typography) A typeface.
A mode of regard, whether favourable or unfavourable; favour or anger.
(informal) The amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, etc., without any interest or discount; face value.
To position oneself or itself so as to have one's face closest to (something).
Face the sun.
To have its front closest to, or in the direction of (something else).
Turn the chair so it faces the table.
(transitive) To cause (something) to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction.
(transitive) To be presented or confronted with; to have in prospect.
We are facing an uncertain future.
(transitive) To deal with (a difficult situation or person); to accept (facts, reality, etc.) even when undesirable.
I'm going to have to face this sooner or later.
(intransitive) To have the front in a certain direction.
The seats in the carriage faced backwards.
(transitive) To have as an opponent.
Real Madrid face Juventus in the quarter-finals.
To be the batsman on strike.
Willoughby comes in to bowl, and it's Hobson facing.
To confront impudently; to bully.
(transitive) To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon.
A building faced with marble
(transitive) To line near the edge, especially with a different material.
To face the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress
To cover with better, or better appearing, material than the mass consists of, for purpose of deception, as the surface of a box of tea, a barrel of sugar, etc.
(engineering) To make the surface of (anything) flat or smooth; to dress the face of (a stone, a casting, etc.); especially, in turning, to shape or smooth the flat (transverse) surface of, as distinguished from the cylindrical (axial) surface.
To arrange the products in (a store) so that they are tidy and attractive.
In my first job, I learned how to operate a till and to face the store to high standards.
The exterior form or appearance of anything; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front or upper part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator.
A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground.
Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face.
That part of a body, having several sides, which may be seen from one point, or which is presented toward a certain direction; one of the bounding planes of a solid; as, a cube has six faces.
The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the principal flat surface of a part or object.
The upper surface, or the character upon the surface, of a type, plate, etc.
Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired.
To set a face upon their own malignant design.
This would produce a new face of things in Europe.
We wear a face of joy, becauseWe have been glad of yore.
That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.
Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air; appearance.
We set the best faceon it we could.
Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac.
Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery.
This is the man that has the face to charge others with false citations.
Presence; sight; front; as in the phrases, before the face of, in the immediate presence of; in the face of, before, in, or against the front of; as, to fly in the face of danger; to the face of, directly to; from the face of, from the presence of.
Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases.
The Lord make his face to shine upon thee.
My face [favor] will I turn also from them.
The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which work is progressing or was last done.
The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for discount; most commonly called face value.
To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle.
I'll faceThis tempest, and deserve the name of king.
To Confront impudently; to bully.
I will neither be facednor braved.
To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to front upon; as, the apartments of the general faced the park; some of the seats on the train faced backward.
He gained also with his forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland.
To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon; as, a building faced with marble.
To line near the edge, esp. with a different material; as, to face the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress.
To cover with better, or better appearing, material than the mass consists of, for purpose of deception, as the surface of a box of tea, a barrel of sugar, etc.
To make the surface of (anything) flat or smooth; to dress the face of (a stone, a casting, etc.); esp., in turning, to shape or smooth the flat surface of, as distinguished from the cylindrical surface.
To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction.
To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite.
To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left.
Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid!
To present a face or front.
The front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear;
He washed his face
I wish I had seen the look on his face when he got the news
The expression on a person's face;
A sad expression
A look of triumph
An angry face
The general outward appearance of something;
The face of the city is changing
The act of confronting bravely;
He hated facing the facts
He excelled in the face of danger
The striking or working surface of an implement
A part of a person that is used to refer to a person;
He looked out at a roomful of faces
When he returned to work he met many new faces
A surface forming part of the outside of an object;
He examined all sides of the crystal
Dew dripped from the face of the leaf
The part of an animal corresponding to the human face
The side upon which the use of a thing depends (usually the most prominent surface of an object);
He dealt the cards face down
A contorted facial expression;
She made a grimace at the prospect
A specific size and style of type within a type family
Status in the eyes of others;
He lost face
Impudent aggressiveness;
I couldn't believe her boldness
He had the effrontery to question my honesty
A vertical surface of a building or cliff
Deal with (something unpleasant) head on;
You must confront your problems
He faced the terrible consequences of his mistakes
Oppose, as in hostility or a competition;
You must confront your opponent
Jackson faced Smith in the boxing ring
The two enemies finally confronted each other
Be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to;
The house looks north
My backyard look onto the pond
The building faces the park
Be opposite;
The facing page
The two sofas face each other
Turn so as to face; turn the face in a certain direction;
Turn and face your partner now
Present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize;
We confronted him with the evidence
He was faced with all the evidence and could no longer deny his actions
An enormous dilemma faces us
Turn so as to expose the face;
Face a playing card
Line the edge (of a garment) with a different material;
Face the lapels of the jacket
Cover the front or surface of;
The building was faced with beautiful stones
To make (something) appear on the surface.
Her name was faced in gold on the cover of the book.
The outward appearance or expression of a person.
Her face betrayed her true feelings of joy.
To apply makeup to the face.
She faced herself quickly before leaving for the party.
Face Snonyms
Countenance
A person's face or facial expression.
Her countenance was calm despite the chaos around her.
Profile
An outline of something, especially a person's face from the side.
The artist captured her profile beautifully in the sketch.
Visage
The face or facial expression of a person.
His visage softened when he saw the gift.
Mug
Slang for face.
He made a funny mug when he tasted the sour lemon.
Facade
An outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant reality.
Despite the smile on his facade, he was deeply troubled.
Features
The parts of a person's face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Her features were soft and delicate.
Demeanor
Outward behavior or bearing, including facial expressions.
Her calm demeanor was reassuring to the team.
Expression
The process of making known one's thoughts or feelings through the face.
His expression of surprise was unmistakable.
Physiognomy
A person's facial features or expression, especially when regarded as indicative of character.
His physiognomy was stern, making him seem unapproachable.
Aspect
The appearance, expression, or bearing of a person's face.
His aspect was grave as he delivered the news.
Face Idioms & Phrases
About-face
A complete change of direction or opinion.
She did an about-face on her decision to move abroad.
Face the facts
To accept the reality of a situation.
It's time to face the facts and acknowledge the mistake.
Long face
A sad, disappointed, or dejected expression.
He had a long face after hearing the bad news.
Face like thunder
A very angry or furious expression.
The boss had a face like thunder when he found out about the mistake.
Save face
To preserve one's reputation or dignity.
He tried to save face by explaining his absence.
Face value
The apparent or surface value of something, without questioning its underlying substance.
He accepted the explanation at face value.
Face the music
To confront the consequences of one's actions.
After cheating on the exam, he had to face the music.
Face up to
To confront and deal with something difficult.
She finally faced up to her financial problems.
Put on a brave face
To pretend to be happy or unconcerned about something troubling.
Despite the pain, he put on a brave face.
Face in the crowd
An ordinary or unremarkable person among many.
He felt like just another face in the crowd at the concert.
Face Example Sentences
He decided to face his problems instead of running from them.
Every morning, she looked at her face in the mirror.
Her face lit up when she saw the puppy.
He faced the audience confidently and began his speech.
He turned the card face down on the table.
She applied a light face of makeup for the event.
She kept a straight face, even though she wanted to laugh.
He washed his face every night before bed.
The cliff face was steep and daunting.
You could see the excitement on her face.
The face of the watch was cracked, but it still worked.
Her face turned red with embarrassment.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in "face"?
In "face," the only syllable "face" is stressed.
How many syllables are in "face"?
There is 1 syllable in "face."
How do we divide "face" into syllables?
"Face" is divided into syllables as: face.
What is the verb form of "face"?
The verb form of "face" is also "face," as in to confront or turn toward, e.g., "He faced the challenge head-on."
What is the pronunciation of "face"?
"Face" is pronounced as /feɪs/.
What part of speech is "face"?
"Face" can be a noun (referring to the front part of the head) or a verb (meaning to confront or turn towards).
Why is it called "face"?
It's called "face" because it derives from the Latin word "facies," meaning form or appearance, which aptly describes the human face as the front part of the head, where emotions and expressions are displayed.
What is the second form of "face"?
The second form of "face" is "faced," as in "He faced the problem."
How is "face" used in a sentence?
"Face" is used to refer to the front part of the human head or to describe confronting or dealing with something, e.g., She decided to face her fears.
What is the root word of "face"?
The root word of "face" is the Latin "facies," meaning form or appearance.
What is the plural form of "face"?
The plural form is "faces," referring to more than one person's face or multiple aspects of something.
What is the first form of "face"?
The first form of "face" is "face," as in "He faces the problem."
Is the word "face" Gerund?
No, "face" is not used as a gerund. The gerund form would involve the verb form, like "facing."
Which vowel is used before "face"?
The vowel "a" is used in "face."
What is another term for "face"?
Another term for "face" is "visage," referring specifically to the appearance or expression of the face.
Is "face" a negative or positive word?
"Face" is neutral; it can be used in both positive and negative contexts depending on the situation.
Is "face" a vowel or consonant?
The word "face" starts with a consonant sound.
Is the "face" term a metaphor?
"Face" can be used metaphorically, as in "facing a problem," where it means to confront or deal with something.
Is "face" a noun or adjective?
"Face" is primarily a noun but can function as a verb. It is not an adjective.
Is "face" an adverb?
No, "face" is not an adverb.
Which preposition is used with "face"?
Prepositions like "of," "in," and "on" can be used with "face," depending on the context, e.g., "the face of the clock," "in her face," "on his face."
Which conjunction is used with "face"?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "face" in compound sentences, e.g., "Her face was calm, but her hands were trembling."
What is the third form of "face"?
The third form of "face" is "faced," as in "He has faced many challenges."
Is "face" an abstract noun?
No, "face" is a concrete noun when referring to the physical part of the head, but it can have abstract uses when referring to facing challenges.
Is "face" a collective noun?
No, "face" is not typically used as a collective noun.
Is the word “face” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Face" can be a direct object in sentences where something is done to it, e.g., "He washed his face."
What is the singular form of "face"?
The singular form is "face," referring to one person's face or one aspect of something.
What is the opposite of "face"?
The opposite of "face" (as a verb) can be "avoid" or "turn away from," and as a noun, it can be "back" or "rear."
Is "face" a countable noun?
Yes, "face" is a countable noun when referring to the number of faces or aspects.
Is the word "face" imperative?
"Face" can be used in the imperative mood as a command, e.g., "Face your fears!"
Which determiner is used with "face"?
Determiners like "the," "my," "your," etc., can be used with "face," depending on the context, e.g., "the face," "my face."
Which article is used with "face"?
The definite article "the" or indefinite articles "a" or "an" can be used with "face," depending on the context, e.g., "the face," "a face in the crowd."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
