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• face-to-face
  face-to-face

  adjective

  with the fronts or faces toward each other, especially when close together.
• face to face
  face to face

  adverb

  opposite one another

face-to-face

American  

[fays-tuh-fays] / ˈfeɪs təˈfeɪs /

adjective

1. with the fronts or faces toward each other, especially when close together.

2. involving close contact or direct opposition.

   a face-to-face confrontation of adversaries.

3. noting, relating to, or promoting interaction that takes place in person, as opposed to online interaction or electronic communications: f2f, F2F, FTF, ftf

   face-to-face classrooms.

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face to face British  

adverb

1. opposite one another

2. in confrontation

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face to face Idioms  

1. In each other's presence, opposite one another; in direct communication. For example, The two chairmen sat face to face , or It's time his parents met the teacher face to face . [Mid-1300s]

2. Confronting each other, as in We were face to face with death during the avalanche . [Late 1800s]

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Usage

What does face-to-face mean? Face-to-face describes an interaction that takes place in person, as opposed to over the phone or online, as in Instead of emailing back and forth, let’s meet face-to-face in my office this afternoon. It is also commonly spelled without hyphens, as face to face. Sometimes the phrase is used as a noun referring to such a meeting, as in Let’s schedule a face-to-face for Friday morning. (In this usage, the term is almost always hyphenated.)Sometimes face-to-face indicates direct competition or confrontation, as in This is the first time these two players will have had a face-to-face match-up. In this sense, the term is very similar to head-to-head, which is probably more commonly used for such situations, especially in the context of sports. This sense of the word can also be used metaphorically to refer to a direct encounter with something, especially death or something else negative. In its most literal sense, face-to-face describes two things or people that are positioned so that they are facing each other, often close together, as in Please sit face-to-face with your partner for the practice interview or When you place these on the shelf, make sure they’re face-to-face instead of back-to-back.

Etymology

Origin of face-to-face

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

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Explanation

Doing something face-to-face means it's happening in close proximity to another person. When you're meeting face-to-face with your teacher, the two of you are together and speaking directly to each other. As an adverb or adjective, face-to-face describes in-person interactions. If you're frustrated with an issue in your city, you might demand a face-to-face conversation with the mayor. And if you have sad news to convey, don't send a text: "I wanted to tell you face-to-face that I killed your plant." Being forced to confront something difficult is another use for this word: "It was at the karaoke party that I came face-to-face with my inability to carry a tune."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

face-to-face face to face

"Specific dates and locations could be discussed through Panmunjom," said Kim, referencing the symbolic truce village where troops from both Koreas stand face-to-face.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

Kao told the FBI he would strike deals in small, face-to-face meetings with the members or their trusted staff.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

But Parisian pupil Kaspar, 15, speaks of his fear when coming face-to-face with police in full riot gear.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

There’s even a computer-generated Elon, a by-product of Gibney not securing a face-to-face interview with the tycoon himself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Some would hold out for months, I was told, expecting a face-to-face conversation with every candidate before finally committing to one.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

"If you look at anyone's social media feeds and look at the comments, people will say things that they would never say face to face."

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

Having come face to face with its most brutal consequences, Cassie’s rose-colored glasses have been removed, stomped on, ground to a pulp and had their remains burnt to ash.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

After traumatic events, they also need to process what happened face to face before returning to screens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

"When you meet someone face to face, you feel you know them... we felt we could trust him," Bosi, 65, explained.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

I might have this wrong, and that’s why I was going to wait and go through this with you face to face, but I think she wants to recant.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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