face-to-face

American  

[feys-tuh-feys] / 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

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

It was not known whether the two sides would meet face-to-face, or whether they would mirror an indirect format used in Oman-mediated talks before the war.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

That raises the already high stakes for Trump, as Vice-President JD Vance leads an American delegation to Pakistan to engage in face-to-face negotiations with the Iranians on Saturday.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Lauren and Kristin, you don’t ever really speak face-to-face on “Laguna Beach.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Fully remote work may also sound appealing, but there’s “still less stability” compared with jobs where workers can build face-to-face relationships with their bosses.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Back home they probably would have had the decency to whisper, but here they felt free to say whatever they wanted, face-to-face and in a normal tone of voice.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• eye to eye