often attributive
1
a
: the front part of the head that in humans extends from the forehead to the chin and includes the mouth, nose, cheeks, and eyes
b
: the face as a means of identification : countenance
would know that face anywhere
3
a
: facial expression
a friendly face
b
: a facial expression of distaste or displeasure
he made a face when he saw the test results
c
: makeup sense 3a(1)
—usually used in the phrase put one's face on
… I have never been the kind of woman who feels comfortable popping to the shops without putting my face on first.—
Vicki Michelle
4
a(1)
: outward appearance
put a good face on it
(2)
: the aspect of something that is perceptible or obvious upon superficial examination
the theory is absurd on its face—Kim Neely
c(1)
: assurance, confidence
maintaining a firm face in spite of adversity
(2)
: effrontery
how anyone could have the face to ask that question
5
: surface:
a(1)
: a front, upper, or outer surface
vanished from the face of the earth
(2)
: the front of something having two or four sides
the face of a clock
(3)
: facade
the face of a building
(4)
: an exposed surface of rock
(5)
: any of the plane surfaces that bound a geometric solid
A cube is a solid with six square faces.
b
: a surface specially prepared: such as
(1)
: the principal finished surface (as of a tool or implement)
The tendency of the belt is to slip over the face of the pulley in a counter clockwise direction.—H. W. Harkness
Cans are made from … thin sheets of steel lightly coated with tin. This tin coating serves two purposes: it covers the face of the steel sheet, preserving it from rust; and it acts as a medium by which parts of a sheet may be made to adhere to one another by soldering.—B. S. Luh et al.
(2)
: the right side (as of cloth or leather)
(3)
: an inscribed, printed, or marked side
the two faces of a coin
c
: a striking surface (as of a tool)
the face of the golf club
the face of an anvil
d(1)
: the surface (as of type) that receives the ink and transfers it to the paper
(2)
: a style of type
6
: the end or wall of a mine tunnel, drift, or excavation at which work is progressing
7
8
a
: person
lots of new faces around here
b
professional wrestling
: baby face sense 2
Randy Orton earned respect as a heel because of his cocky, overconfident persona. As a face, he's lost the smugness that defined his character and is struggling to find his identity.—Rennie Detore
faced; facing
1
: to confront impudently
faced him with evidence of treachery
2
a
: to line near the edge especially with a different material
b
: to cover the front or surface of
faced the building with marble
3
: to meet face-to-face or in competition
The team will face a tough opponent in its next game.
4
a
: to stand or sit with the face toward
The teacher faced the class.
b
: to have the front oriented toward
a house facing the park
5
a
: to recognize and deal with straightforwardly
face the facts
b
: to master by confronting with determination
—used with down
faced down his critics
6
a
: to have as a prospect : be confronted by
face a grim future
b
: to be a prospect or a source of concern for
the problems that face us
c
: to bring face-to-face
he was faced with ruin
7
: to make the surface of (something, such as a stone) flat or smooth
8
: to cause (troops) to face in a particular direction on command
The captain faced his company to the left.
1
: to have the face or front turned in a specified direction
The house faced south.
2
: to turn the face in a specified direction
She faced to her left.
Synonyms
Examples of face in a Sentence
Noun
He has a round face.
His face is familiar but I can't remember his name.
I'll never forget the look on her face.
He fell flat on his face.
I didn't recognize any of the faces around the table.
There are lots of new faces around the office.
Verb
The teacher faced the class.
She turned around to face the window.
He sat facing the wall.
Turn and face to the east.
The house faces the park.
The living room faces the afternoon sun.
My shoe was lying in the corner with its sole facing upward.
The flower opens facing skyward.
Look at the illustration on the facing page.
Only by facing your problems can you hope to overcome them.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Chang, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
None of the deficiencies could dim the wide smile on Jim Harbaugh’s face after the game.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Hegseth faces a very tough path to confirmation in the Senate, and his bleak prospects have been communicated directly to the Trump transition team, which is now mulling other options.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for face 
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.
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Noun
Sporting black square frames and orange gradient lenses that block 99.9% of UV rays, these sunglasses offer style and substance, and flatter all faces.
—Verb
To Question About Being 'Drunk' On The Job By Alia Shoaib
Freelance News Reporter
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, faces an uphill battle to get elected by the Senate as lawmakers express concern about his controversial past.
—
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Dictionary Entries Near face
Cite this Entry
“Face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/face. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
face
1 of 2 noun1
: the front part of the head
2
a
: an expression of the face
a friendly face
b
: grimace
make a face
3
a
: outward appearance
on the face of it
b
: dignity sense 1, prestige
lose face
4
a
: a front, upper, or outer surface
the face of a cliff
b
: any of the flat surfaces that form the boundary of a solid in geometry
every cube has six faces
c
: a surface or side that is marked or specially prepared
the face of a certificate
d
: an exposed surface of rock
5
: the end (as of a mine tunnel) at which work is going on
6
: person
a lot of new faces around here
face
2 of 2 verb
faced; facing
1
a
: to line near the edge especially with a different material
face a hem
b
: to cover the front or surface of
faced the building with marble
2
: to meet face-to-face
faced the opposing team
face one's accusers
3
a
: to stand or sit with the face toward
face the class
b
: to have the front oriented toward
a house facing the park
4
a
: to recognize and deal with
face facts
b
: to oppose by confronting with determination
face down their critics
5
: to turn toward
face the east
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
face
noun1
a
: outward appearance
b
: the surface or superficial reading or meaning of something (as a document or statute) that does not take into account outside information
the face of [the] deed reveals that she had two purposes in mind—State v. Rand, 366 A.2d 183 (1976)
—often used in the phrases on its face and on the face of
is…neutral on its face but has a discriminatory effect on women—Marcia Coyle
did not see on the face of the amendment that it was precisely directed at public as distinguished from private destruction—O'Brien v. United States, 376 F.2d 538 (1967)
2
: the inscribed or printed side of something (as a document)
broadly
: the front side of something inscribed or printed on both sides
the face of a stock certificate
3
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