face 1 of 2

Definition of facenext
1
as in to front
to stand or sit with the face or front toward the house faces the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean

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as in to encounter
to enter into contest or conflict with the Boston Red Sox were eager to face their traditional rivals, the Yankees, in the play-offs

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face

2 of 2

noun

1
as in looks
the front part of the head the criminal hid his face from the news cameras as he slumped into the patrol car

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2
as in front
a forward part or surface the face of the store building has been altered many times over the years to meet changing tastes and needs

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3
as in frown
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval it's rude to make a face when your dinner hostess offers you broccoli

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4
as in exterior
an outer part or layer a much-needed sandblasting revealed that the face of the old stone church is actually a pinkish granite

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5
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling a rainy day is no excuse for just moping around with a long face, so let's do something

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of face
Verb
Fans will want to keep tabs on whom title contenders and district title favorites — such as Aledo, Southlake Carroll and North Crowley — choose to face. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2026 Nicolas Thompson-Lleras, a Los Angeles attorney who counsels immigrants facing deportation, said two of his clients were registered under aliases at different hospitals in Los Angeles County last year. Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Or, yes, time to look in different places for different faces. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026 According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, citing prosecutors, the accused's face can be seen in a two-minute and 16-second video captured on a cell phone, in which the camera switches from the front-facing view to the rear camera. Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face
Verb
  • Qualley has been a Chanel house ambassador since 2020, fronting campaigns for spring 2020 eyewear, the Coco Beach 2022 collection and the 2023 Coco Crush jewelry line.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The neighborhood/area Portofino began as a fishing village fronting the bay, this little crook of Ligurian coastline.
    Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The changes to and cancellation of courses comes months after a viral video of a student confronting an instructor over her lessons threw Texas A&M, one of the largest universities in the country, into upheaval.
    Juan A. Lozano, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The past couple of months, however, have shown that huge numbers of Americans do love their neighbors—enough to show up in frozen streets, confront armed federal agents, and even risk death.
    Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Horizontal wood paneling clads this chimney from floor to ceiling instead of the usual brick or stone.
    Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
  • On Floors, Walls, and Ceiling Famed interior designer Emily Henderson went all-in on warm oak for her brother’s home project, cladding the floors, walls, and ceiling a gorgeous oak wood plank.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The most recent third season transported viewers to Thailand, where glamorous guests (played by Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Carrie Coon, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Walton Goggins, Aimee Lou Wood among many others) encountered enlightenment, spirituality and death.
    Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, who hopes to return home to his wife (Anne Hathaway) after the Trojan War, but (famously), encounters a few obstacles.
    Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Everyone followed a similar sartorial rhythm, in sheer looks, black sparkles, and some cool-toned mint.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Honda has also generated a lot of buzz with its new CB1000F homage (below) to the beloved CB750F from the 1980s, and many of Harley-Davidson’s models carry on the looks and stance of models stretching back to the 1950s.
    William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Trumpism does not hide behind the facade of something high.
    Ezra Klein, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Don’t be fooled by the dull façade of their authority.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Not a quiver in his lips, yet his frown growing.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
  • My best friend Russell is an acupuncturist, and seemed like the perfect person to place my tape, slapping it on my frown lines, crow’s-feet, and nasolabial folds.
    Lena Dunham, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The soft Italian suede is treated with the brand’s proprietary City Dry technology, which creates a waterproof exterior to combat rain and slush.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
  • The 6,000-square-foot estate draws heavily on Moroccan design motifs, with the celebrated interior designer Brittny Button bringing in touches like a 13th-century fireplace in the living room and Moroccan fountains along the exterior.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 28 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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