face up to

British  

verb

1. to accept (an unpleasant fact, reality, etc)

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face up to Idioms  

1. Also, face it. Confront or accept an unpleasant or difficult situation. For example, Jane had to face up to the possibility of being fired, or Face it—you were wrong. [Late 1700s] Also see face the music.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

face up to

And so, 25 years after it opened, Berlin’s Jewish Museum must face up to an existential challenge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

"We have to face up to the changing climate ... there's no point denying where we are. We need to face up to it. We need more clean energy."

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

It’s because you need to face up to whatever got you into this situation — and to take responsibility for your actions.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

If convicted, they could face up to seven years in prison.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Elsie presses her face up to the window and I wonder what she’s thinking.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

Related Words

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