confront

[kuhn-fruhnt]

verb (used with object)

1. to face in hostility or defiance; oppose.

   The feuding factions confronted one another.

2. to present for acknowledgment, contradiction, etc.; set face to face.

   They confronted him with evidence of his crime.

3. to face and deal with boldly or directly.

   The city refuses to confront the real reason for the housing shortage.

4. to stand or come in front of; stand or meet facing.

   The two long-separated brothers confronted each other speechlessly.

5. to be in one's way.

   the numerous obstacles that still confronted him.

6. to bring together for examination or comparison.

confront

/ kənˈfrʌnt /

verb

1. (usually foll by with) to present or face (with something), esp in order to accuse or criticize

2. to face boldly; oppose in hostility

3. to be face to face with; be in front of

4. to bring together for comparison

Other Word Forms

• confronter noun
• reconfront verb (used with object)
• unconfronted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confront¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin confrontārī, equivalent to Latin con-, variant of intensive prefix com- + -frontārī, derivative of Latin frōns (stem front- ) “forehead”; con-, front

Word History and Origins

Origin of confront¹

C16: from Medieval Latin confrontārī to stand face to face with, from frons forehead

Example Sentences

Filling those empty chairs, commanding attention is just the beginning of the task she confronts.

From BBC

A volunteer security guard at a Manchester synagogue has spoken about the moment he confronted the man who went on to attack worshippers.

From BBC

But before we confront the gender elephant in the room, it’s necessary to explore why Greene is actually doing a lot of smart things.

From Salon

Moody, 47, learned he had the degenerative, muscle-wasting condition two weeks ago and has told BBC Breakfast that he is struggling to confront the implications of his diagnosis.

From BBC

The pair of them were confronted by an angry fan at a hotel in the wake of the loss to Sturm Graz on Thursday.

From BBC

Related Words

• accost 
• defy 
• encounter 
• meet 
• oppose 
• repel 
• resist