facing

American  

[fey-sing] / ˈfeɪ sɪŋ /

noun

1. a covering in front, for ornament, protection, etc., as an outer layer of stone on a brick wall.

2. a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornament or strengthening.

3. material turned outward or inward, as a cuff or hem.

4. facings, coverings of a different color applied on the collar, cuffs, or other parts of a military coat.

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facing British  

/ ˈfeɪsɪŋ /

noun

1. a piece of material used esp to conceal the seam of a garment and prevent fraying

2. (usually plural) a piece of additional cloth, esp in a different colour, on the collar, cuffs, etc, of the jacket of a military uniform, formerly used to denote the regiment

3. an outer layer or coat of material applied to the surface of a wall

4. marketing an area of retail shelf space

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Etymology

Origin of facing

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; face + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Facing that volume, Ukraine built a counterdrone industry from scratch: cheap, mass-produced interceptor drones costing $1,000 to $2,500 per unit, capable of destroying targets autonomously.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

Facing pressure from its employees and investors, OpenAI reinstated Altman as chief executive less than a week after he was pushed out.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Facing daily barrages of Russian drones and missiles, Ukraine has invited private companies to get their own air-defence systems in a bid to ease the burden on its military.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Facing tough questions, Pyongyang announced it would withdraw from the NPT.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Facing serious criminal charges, and with her court hearing only two weeks away, Claudette feared she might be sent to a reform school as a juvenile delinquent.

From "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose