face
FAYS
Face (noun) means the front of the head, including the eyes, nose, and mouth. Example: “She had a warm smile on her face.”
noun
1
The front of the head, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
"She had a warm smile on her face."
"He splashed cold water on his face to wake up."
"The child's face lit up when she saw the puppy."
2
One's reputation, dignity, or standing in the eyes of others.
"He refused to apologise, worried it would make him lose face."
"Admitting the error helped her save face with the client."
"Being corrected in public made him feel he had lost face."
3
The front or outer surface of an object, such as a clock, cliff, or building.
"The clock face was cracked but still ticking."
"The north face of the mountain is too steep for beginners."
"Climbers inched up the sheer face of the cliff."
verb
1
To have the front pointed toward something, or to be positioned opposite it.
"Our hotel room faced the sea."
"The sofa faces the window so we can watch the garden."
"Please face the front of the room and stay quiet."
2
To confront or deal with a difficult situation, person, or fact.
"She had to face the possibility that the business might fail."
"He finally faced up to his mistakes."
"You must face your fears if you want to improve."
How to use face
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe front of the head — or, more broadly, confronting something, or the outward side/appearance of anything.
Common pairings
face the facts
lose face
face value
a familiar face
face-to-face
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Word forms
- Plural
- faces
- Third person singular
- faces
- Past tense
- faced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She had a warm smile on her _____.
Etymology
From Old French face, from Latin facies, "form, appearance."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for face
See all rhymes for face →Frequently asked questions
What does “face” mean?
The word “face” means the front of the head, including the eyes, nose, and mouth. In plain terms, the front of the head — or, more broadly, confronting something, or the outward side/appearance of anything.
How do you pronounce “face”?
“Face” is pronounced FAYS (/ˈfeɪ̯s/ in IPA).
How do you use “face” in a sentence?
Here is “face” used in a sentence: “She had a warm smile on her face.”
What part of speech is “face”?
Depending on how it is used, “face” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “face” come from?
The word “face” comes from Latin. From Old French face, from Latin facies, "form, appearance.".
Is “face” a common word?
“Face” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “face” have?
“Face” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the front of the head, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
What are the different parts of the face?
The face includes the forehead at the top, the eyes and eyebrows, the nose in the centre, the cheeks on either side, the mouth and lips below, and the chin and jaw at the base. Together these features form the front of the head and carry most of a person's expressions.
What is the difference between the face and the head?
The head is the whole upper structure of the body, including the skull, scalp, ears, and everything inside. The face is only the front portion, the area from the forehead to the chin that holds the eyes, nose, and mouth. So the face is one visible part of the larger head.
Does 'face' have meanings beyond the front of the head?
Yes. As a verb, 'to face' means to confront or turn towards something, as in facing a challenge. 'Face' can also mean the surface of an object, like a clock face or a cliff face, and appears in expressions such as 'save face,' meaning to protect one's dignity.
What is an example of 'face' in a sentence?
'She had a kind face with bright eyes and a warm smile.' Here 'face' refers to the front of the head and the features on it. The word often carries emotional weight, since a person's face reveals mood, age, and identity more than any other body part.
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