face-to-face

adverb or adjective

1
: within each other's sight or presence
met and talked face-to-face
a face-to-face consultation
2
: in or into direct contact or confrontation
came face-to-face with the problem

Examples of face-to-face in a Sentence

I won't believe that accusation until I meet with him face-to-face and ask him myself came face-to-face with her lifelong fear of flying even before the plane left the runway
Recent Examples on the Web The three questions in this study were included in a random-sample, face-to-face survey of 1,012 Israelis, with fieldwork by PORI, Sept. 8-22, before the bulk of Israel's campaign against Hezbollah and Iran's subsequent missile attack this week. Gary Langer, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2024 Employers argue that face-to-face interactions foster collaboration, creativity and problem-solving in ways that virtual environments cannot replicate. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 Once the proposal has been accepted, production arranges for the pair to meet face-to-face for the first time. Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024 But candidates avoided face-to-face encounters in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 campaigns. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for face-to-face 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'face-to-face.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of face-to-face was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near face-to-face

Cite this Entry

“Face-to-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/face-to-face. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

face-to-face

adverb or adjective
ˌfās-tə-ˈfās
1
: within each other's close presence
met face-to-face
2
: in or into direct contact or confrontation
face-to-face with a crisis

More from Merriam-Webster on face-to-face

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!