definitions

confront

[ kuh n-fruhnt ]
/ kənˈfrʌnt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR confront ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to face in hostility or defiance; oppose: The feuding factions confronted one another.
to present for acknowledgment, contradiction, etc.; set face to face: They confronted him with evidence of his crime.
to stand or come in front of; stand or meet facing: The two long-separated brothers confronted each other speechlessly.
to be in one's way: the numerous obstacles that still confronted him.
to bring together for examination or comparison.

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RELATED WORDS

defy, resist, accost, repel, oppose, meet, encounter, withstand, brave, affront, flout, scorn, front, dare, beard

Nearby words

conformity, confound, confounded, confraternity, confrere, confront, confrontation, confrontational, confrontationist, confrontative, confrère

Origin of confront

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin confrontārī, equivalent to Latin con- con- + -frontārī, derivative of Latin frōns forehead, front
Related formscon·front·al, con·front·ment, nouncon·front·er, nounre·con·front, verb (used with object)un·con·front·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for confront

British Dictionary definitions for confront

confront

/ (kənˈfrʌnt) /

verb (tr)

(usually foll by with) to present or face (with something), esp in order to accuse or criticize
to face boldly; oppose in hostility
to be face to face with; be in front of
to bring together for comparison
Derived Formsconfronter, noun

Word Origin for confront

C16: from Medieval Latin confrontārī to stand face to face with, from frons forehead
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for confront

confront

v.

1560s, "to stand in front of," from Middle French confronter (15c.), from Medieval Latin confrontare "assign limits, adjoin," from Latin com- "together" (see com-) + frontem (nominative frons) "forehead" (see front (n.)). Sense of "to face in defiance or hostility" is late 16c. Related: Confronted; confronting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper