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Showing results for on the face of it. Search instead for By the grace of god.
Synonyms

on the face of it

Idioms  

  1. Seemingly, based on available evidence, as in On the face of it this project should break even in six months. This idiom uses face in the sense of “a superficial view.” [Early 1700s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Oracle has a $523 billion revenue backlog which is impressive on the face of it.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

His offer of a life estate is, on the face of it, generous.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 11, 2025

Achieving an industrial margin of over 10% is impressive on the face of it, but the figure is flattered by higher R&D capitalization and a property sale in buses, Bernstein says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

After all that’s what everyone close to him told him to his face, and on the face of it, Donny seemed great.

From Salon • Aug. 29, 2025

The visit, which lasted until July, was, on the face of it, a triumph.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.