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

Tim Connelly, Wolves president of basketball operations, and front-office staffer Alonzo Gee flew to Miami to meet with him face-to-face. — Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

During the event, Apple showed AirPods translating Spanish into English while the wearer continued a face-to-face conversation. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Applicants who prefer a face-to-face borrowing experience should look to other lenders. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

In auditioning a snake, Ziegfeld looks each one in the eye, face-to-face, to evaluate the snake’s demeanor. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for face-to-face

• aromatase
• oligoclase
• plagioclase
• polymerase
• streptokinase
• triphosphatase
• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace

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