face-to-face

adverb or adjective

ˈfās-tə-ˈfās 

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

Synonyms

• personally

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

Russia and Ukraine have held two rounds of face-to-face talks in Istanbul on May 16 on June 2, resulting in prisoner exchanges but no steps toward a ceasefire. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

If America and Iran start negotiating this week face-to-face… MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR MARK WARNER: … that would be good. —CBS News, 29 June 2025

It has been widely reported that large face-to-face social gatherings are on the decline. —Kitty Ruskin, Time, 26 June 2025

Snap president Ronan Harris transformed his leadership approach after his father challenged him to replace impersonal thank-you emails with handwritten notes and face-to-face recognition. —Massimo Marioni, Fortune, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for face-to-face

• aromatase
• hydrogenase
• nitrogenase
• oligoclase
• oxygenase
• plagioclase
• polymerase
• streptokinase
• triphosphatase
• abase
• airspace
• apace

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