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

Listen to this article When students showed up to their junior year English class at East Aurora High School remotely in the fall of 2020, their teacher, Melinda Thomas, had not met them face-to-face. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025

Purdue men’s basketball coach Matt Painter didn’t even watch Braden Smith play in person or meet him face-to-face before offering the point guard a scholarship in April 2021. —Tim Casey, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Tshisekedi and Kagame held a surprise face-to-face meeting in Qatar on March 18, but the prospect of a peaceful resolution is still uncertain. —Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025

If there was any doubt as to De Niro’s greatness, it’s laid to rest in these face-to-face confrontations. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Mar. 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