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facedown

American  
[fays-daun, fays-daun] / ˈfeɪsˈdaʊn, ˈfeɪsˌdaʊn /

adverb

  1. with the face or the front or upper surface downward.

    He was lying facedown on the floor. Deal the cards facedown on the table.


noun

  1. Informal. Also face-down a direct confrontation; showdown.

Etymology

Origin of facedown

1930–35; facedown ( def. 1 ) face + down 1; facedown ( def. 2 ) noun use of verb phrase face down

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Trump shared photos of the suspected shooter, shirtless and in handcuffs facedown on a carpeted floor, in what appears to be the Hilton lobby.

From Barron's ● Apr. 26, 2026

“Minutes later, I returned and found him facedown in the pillow,” Tom later wrote.

From Slate ● May 2, 2024

Mendoza, just before he fired, had reported Churna was “proned out,” having walked out of her apartment and laid facedown on the carpet.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2023

Body paint and lying facedown for an hour: what it was like being Margo Robbie’s body double for “Barbie.”

From New York Times ● Jun. 24, 2023

His book was facedown on the desk and his chair was empty.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

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