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

Those polled took part in face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Abaraonye’s attitude drew particular ire due to the fact that the president-elect debated Kirk face-to-face within the walls of the Oxford Union just months before the assassination. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2025

Contestants form bonds and make compatibility decisions while chatting through a wall, eventually getting engaged before meeting face-to-face for the first time. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

Private communications may have to be face-to-face. —Mark Mondier, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 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