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 of face-to-face

• 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

After hearing feedback from thousands of visitors every year, Zvi said that meeting face-to-face with a Holocaust survivor is the single more impactful part of someone’s visit to the memorial. —Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026

This Week In part, that means using AI to gain the skills or confidence to talk to people face-to-face, rather than allowing the tool to replace human relationships. —Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Jan. 2026

After Fatu cost Rhodes the WWE Championship by first attacking McIntyre—then turning his attention to Cody—Rhodes and Fatu have been involved in pull-apart brawls and most recently an excellent face-to-face segment. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026

The agent is face-to-face with one woman wearing a long cream jacket and charcoal pants. —Kif Leswing,terri Cullen, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026

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