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face

face

587 1.7
A person you recognize in a group by how they look
  • noun
  • /feɪs/
: cara
  • It's nice to see again all the old familiar faces.
  • a familiar face
  • names and faces
  • faces and bodies

I'm always searching the faces of strangers for a friend.

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Examples

  • I never forget a face or a friend.

  • I'm always searching the faces of strangers for a friend.

  • Most had only seen a face like mine on TV.

  • Maybe you see some new faces here.

  • Come on, buddy, show me your face.

  • Just look at their faces.

  • Glancing around the auditorium, the pride on the faces of the teachers was apparent.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I recognized her face at the crowded event, and it made me feel at home.

  • In the photos, you could see all the smiling faces of the attendees celebrating together.

  • The committee aims to showcase diverse faces from the community in their upcoming project.

Synonyms

familiar face
vsface
43 2.0

Someone you have seen before and can easily recognize

refers to any person seen among a group regardless of recognition

Idioms

193 2.3

In the same place as someone and looking at them directly

in your face
  • Informal
101 8.1

Bold and aggressive to get attention or challenge others

to face facts
  • Informal
61 4.1

Accept the truth about a difficult situation

to save face
  • Informal
31 5.3

Keep respect in front of others after making a mistake

To be very obvious and hard for someone to ignore

Move parts of your face to show dislike, pain, or to be funny

24 8.2

Act in a way that shows strong disrespect and insults someone

18 4.5

Accept and deal with unpleasant results or criticism for something you did

Openly oppose something, often against common sense or tradition

to lose face
  • Informal
16 6.6

To feel embarrassed and seem less respected in front of other people

Judging something only by what you first see without checking hidden facts

Something looks true at first but may not be

To keep going when you face serious problems

A strong feeling you can clearly see on someone's face

3 9.9

To threaten to hurt someone very badly

to pull a face
  • Informal
3 5.5

Make a face to show dislike or discomfort

Disappear completely so no one knows what happened and no sign is left

2 9.9

Hit someone's face hard so it looks damaged

2 7.6

A person who is attractive but thought to have little intelligence or real skill

Deliberately do something that hurts you more than the person you want to punish

1 9.9

To surprise someone very strongly, often in a funny way

Someone or something disappears completely so nobody knows where they are

to face Goliath
  • Informal
1 8.1

To take on a much more powerful person or group

1 7.4

Act confident and serious to hide nerves before a challenge

To keep your face looking serious and not show you are laughing

1 5.5

To talk directly to someone when they are there

1 8.2

In a job or place where the real work is done

to about-face
  • Literature
1 6.7

To change your opinion or position completely and suddenly

1 9.9

A face that looks very ugly

1 7.6

To fail badly and embarrass yourself in front of other people

A face that looks healthy and young

A face that people think is very ugly

A face so ugly that it shocks people

To fail completely and feel embarrassed in front of others

To eat a lot of food quickly

To look at your fear and act without avoiding it

A face that clearly shows success and happiness

Compounds

An expression on a person's face that shows their feelings

157 2.8

Happens when people sit or stand opposite each other in the same place

The surface of the world or being anywhere in the world

55 3.2

Happens when people meet and talk in the same place

pretty face
  • Offensive
50 4.2

An attractive person who others think has nothing besides looks

43 2.0

Someone you have seen before and can easily recognize

face value
  • Specialized
40 4.4

A number printed on a ticket, coin, or bond that shows its official worth

37 3.9

A face that shows no feeling, often to avoid laughing

22 5.3

A tense meeting between two people or groups on opposite sides

game face
  • Informal
18 6.5

A serious, focused look people make before a challenge

poker face
  • Informal
18 4.8

A face that shows no feeling so others cannot tell what you feel

face time
  • Jargon
17 4.0

Time spent in the same place with the people you work with

16 3.5

A face that makes someone look younger and more innocent than they are

face lift
  • Specialized
15 4.4

Surgery that tightens the skin on the face and removes extra tissue to make someone look younger

in-your-face
  • Informal
15 8.4

Very bold and rude in a way that forces people to notice

12 4.0

A small change to the look of something to make it more modern or attractive

about-face
  • Literature
12 7.3

A sudden, complete change of direction or opinion

9 5.1

A round, chubby face with full cheeks

7 1.3

A cream you put on your face to keep the skin soft and not dry

7 1.4

A covering worn over the nose and mouth to protect against dust, germs, or pollution

7 2.7

A cream, clay, or sheet put on the face to make skin look better

6 5.2

A way to start play in ice hockey when a referee drops the puck between two players

5 3.8

A cosmetic update to a building or place that makes it look newer

face recognition
  • Specialized
5 3.1

A computer system that identifies a person by comparing their face with saved photos

3 2.8

A playing card with a picture of a king, queen, or jack

pig face
  • Informal
3 9.3

A silly face that looks like a pig to make people laugh

face lifting
  • Specialized
3 5.1

Surgery that removes loose skin and tightens the face to look younger

A piece of bread with toppings and no top slice

1 1.8

A protective covering worn over the face in sports to prevent injury

The skill of seeing a face and knowing who the person is

1 6.0

An action to help someone avoid embarrassment

1 2.1

A flat surface on a clock that shows the hours and minutes with numbers and hands

1 3.0

A fine powder that you put on your face to make skin look smooth and less shiny

1 7.2

A mask worn to hide the face at a costume party

1 6.3

A thin cloth worn to partly cover the face, often for religious or cultural reasons

1 6.1

A twisted look that shows dislike, annoyance, or slight amusement

1 1.0

A small soft towel you use to wash your face or body

1 3.9

A set of metal bars attached to the front of a football helmet that protects the player's face

resting bitch face
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A calm face that looks unfriendly or annoyed without meaning to

1 1.6

A mild product used to wash the skin on your face

crater face
  • Slang
1 9.8

A face with deep scars or small holes caused by severe acne

hog-face
  • Informal
1 9.9

An exaggerated face people make to show disgust or disapproval

face time
  • Texting
1 3.5

A live video meeting with one or more people

face diaper
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A slang, often rude, name for a mask people wear over their mouth and nose

1 9.6

A sudden complete change of opinion or plan

face saver
  • Informal
1 5.8

Something that helps a person avoid embarrassment or loss of respect

1 1.0

A small towel used to dry the face or hands

1 7.1

The place where work is done and real problems happen

face fungus
  • Slang
1 8.8

Hair that people grow near the mouth and chin, like a beard

1 7.9

A check to see if you can keep a serious face when something is funny

1 5.5

A person who looks attractive on television

face pack
  • Indian
1 3.4

A cream or mask you put on the face to clean and improve the skin

pudding face
  • Offensive
1 8.7

A large round face that looks soft and full

punchable face
  • Offensive
1 9.1

A face that makes people want to hit the person

red face test
  • Informal
1 8.1

A way to see if someone looks embarrassed because they blush

1 9.9

A face with a chin that sticks out

stone-face
  • South African
1 9.9

A small plant with thick leaves that looks like a stone and has yellow or white flowers

face angle
  • Specialized
1 7.5

The turn between two edges that meet at a corner on a flat side of a 3D shape

1 3.9

Computer systems check who a person is by scanning their face

rich face
  • Literature
1 9.9

A face that shows strong character and deep feeling

ewwy face
  • Baby Talk
9.9

A face showing disgust when something tastes or smells bad

face lifting
  • Specialized
4.8

App that edits a person's face in photos to look younger

A company that sells certificates and promises to pay a fixed amount on a set date

mayonnaise face
  • Offensive
9.9

A person whose face looks very pale and unhealthy

goo-goo face
  • Baby Talk
9.9

A silly loving face people make to amuse or show love to a baby

pudding-face
  • Offensive
9.9

A round soft face that looks full and chubby

soyjak face
  • Slang
9.9

A cartoon face with an open mouth and wide eyes used in internet memes to show real or fake excitement

How Familiar

relative
603 1.0
friend
∞ 1.0
familiar face
43 2.0
face
587 1.7
stranger
625 1.0

Surface Forms

face singular
faces plural

Etymology

Face originally meant 'appearance' (Latin facies), so it grew to mean a person you can see in a group. That's why we say 'many familiar faces' to mean many people.