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
• tête-à-tête

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

Remember that feedback is especially crucial for remote teams with limited face-to-face interactions. —Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

Advocates of baby boxes say that the bill would create a safe alternative for parents to drop off newborns anonymously for those who don’t want face-to-face contact with hospital staff. —Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025

The issue bringing conservative Germans face-to-face with police most often nowadays is censorship. —Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025

Traitors, face-to-face before being put into a coffin to leave the game. —Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 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