confront
[kuh n-fruhnt]
- 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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Origin of confront
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for confront
Contemporary Examples
After the six-week training, the forces will be deployed to confront the Islamic State, officials said.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’Nancy A. Youssef
January 6, 2015
Counter-protestors marched to confront the pro-police contingent, separated by barricades and uniformed officers.
This was the first of the series of her fears that Sabrina had to confront.
Conservatives have made clear they want Republican leaders to use the December deadline to confront the president on immigration.
No matter what adversity or fear we may confront, we are always inherently free to choose how to be.
Historical Examples
Those that confront us now are as momentous as any in the past.
The Duke of Lerma, infirm and enfeebled by years, was unable to confront his foes.
Calderon The CourtierEdward Bulwer-Lytton
Our eyes are shut to the damning facts which confront us on every side.
The Truth About WomanC. Gasquoine Hartley
We could not confront the gaze of Beauty with great rents in our shirts.
Brighter Britain! (Volume 1 of 2)William Delisle Hay
My brain was numb, but I did my best to confront the new situation that was before me.
The Woman Thou Gavest MeHall Caine
confront
- (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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for 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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper