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Definition of facenext
1
as in to front
to stand or sit with the face or front toward the house faces the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean

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as in to encounter
to enter into contest or conflict with the Boston Red Sox were eager to face their traditional rivals, the Yankees, in the play-offs

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1
as in looks
the front part of the head the criminal hid his face from the news cameras as he slumped into the patrol car

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2
as in front
a forward part or surface the face of the store building has been altered many times over the years to meet changing tastes and needs

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3
as in frown
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval it's rude to make a face when your dinner hostess offers you broccoli

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4
as in exterior
an outer part or layer a much-needed sandblasting revealed that the face of the old stone church is actually a pinkish granite

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5
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling a rainy day is no excuse for just moping around with a long face, so let's do something

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Example Sentences

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. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of face
Verb
Saints follows Lali, a drifter and a thief, who is pulled back to Barcelona to face and care for her estranged mother Gloria. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026 More than half of Haiti’s population of 12 million are facing acute hunger. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
Campers were beginning to gather; here or there a phone lit a face out of the night like a pilgrim in a tenebrist tableau. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 Gerber worked as a model, including in 2018, at age 18, as the face of Calvin Klein Jeans’ global advertising campaign, along with his sister, Kaia Gerber. — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face
Verb
  • The Grammy-winning country singer was fronting the band without fronting the band, approaching — serving — the songs with the deference of a supporting player.
    — Adam Gold, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The actor fronts the beauty brand’s first collaboration in a social reel, revisiting the memorable scene from the 2004 cult film to introduce its new Kissylips Comfy Hydrating Therapy Lip Mask.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • That result shocked many Germans who had believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority after confronting the horrors of its Nazi past through education and laws to prohibit persecution.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
  • That result shocked many Germans who had believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority after confronting the horrors of its Nazi past through education and laws to outlaw persecution.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Seed Studio Landscape Design used medium-width horizontal panels on the privacy fencing of this elegant backyard grill space and layered on thinner wood slats in the same warm tone to clad the outdoor kitchen.
    — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The same went for the team’s suggestion to clad the powder room in tree bark, a nod to rustic Adirondack camp interiors.
    — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened inside the house, and Hartman said officers encountered inconsistencies while interviewing those who were there.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Older generations often bring wisdom, knowledge and experience in navigating situations that younger employees may encounter for the first time.
    — John Abusaid, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The edits focus on key seasonal themes including maximalist looks, statement tailoring, elevated layering and modern takes on heritage pieces.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The couple were spotted visiting an art gallery on September 17 in two looks that sat on opposite sides of the style spectrum.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Pastel Colonial buildings lined the streets, their facades glowing in the afternoon sun, while the plazas hummed with life.
    — Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026
  • On the façade of the giant concrete structure that was once intended to solve that problem, a sign written in Russian and Spanish remains visible despite the passing years.
    — Juan Carlos López, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The late-night host teasingly drew his face into a frown in order to copy Washington’s facial expression.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Lee indulges that emotional ambiguity, the way the pedal steel can blur the distinction between a frown and a smile.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • The exterior is clad in glass and limestone that reflects the predominant materials on Northwestern’s nearby campus.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The exterior could also be redesigned, including replacing the existing concrete walls with glass and lighting.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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