Skip to main content
face

face

350 6.7
The respect or good opinion other people have of someone
  • noun
  • /feɪs/
translation icon : reputación
  • After the vote, creationists tried to save face by insisting they had scored a victory.
  • save face
  • lose face
  • loss of face

Examples

  • In diplomatic negotiations, both parties must prioritize saving face to maintain their standing.

  • In the end, a compromise was reached, one that saved face for everyone but left no one happy.

    Academic text (2008)
  • I see the joy on your face, hear the sadness in the music.

    Academic text (2017)
  • I must say, Susan, your courage in the face of the enemy is inspiring.

  • Territorial sovereignty is diminished in the face of human necessity.

  • Vengeance is both rational and morally justifiable in the face of injustice.

  • He lost face in the community after the scandal was revealed.

  • To avoid losing face, she decided to apologize publicly for her mistake.

Antonyms

418 2.3

A painful feeling of guilt and embarrassment about something you did wrong

157 3.7

Loss of respect or honor after doing something shameful

Idioms

130 2.3

In the same place as someone and looking at them directly

in your face
  • Informal
43 8.1

Bold and aggressive to get attention or challenge others

to face facts
  • Informal
30 4.1

Accept the truth about a difficult situation

to save face
  • Informal
25 5.3

Keep respect in front of others after making a mistake

To be very obvious and hard for someone to ignore

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

19 4.5

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

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

Openly oppose something, often against common sense or tradition

Something looks true at first but may not be

to lose face
  • Informal
11 6.6

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

6 7.6

To fail badly and embarrass yourself in front of other people

To keep going when you face serious problems

To fail completely and feel embarrassed in front of others

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

to about-face
  • Literature
3 6.7

To change your opinion or position completely and suddenly

1 7.0

To look at your fear and act without avoiding it

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

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

1 7.6

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

to pull a face
  • Informal
1 5.5

Make a face to show dislike or discomfort

1 9.9

To threaten to hurt someone very badly

In a job or place where the real work is done

A face that looks very ugly

A face that looks healthy and young

A face that people think is very ugly

to face Goliath
  • Informal
8.1

To take on a much more powerful person or group

A face so ugly that it shocks people

To eat a lot of food quickly

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

Someone or something disappears completely so nobody knows where they are

7.4

Act confident and serious to hide nerves before a challenge

Hit someone's face hard so it looks damaged

5.5

To talk directly to someone when they are there

To surprise someone very strongly, often in a funny way

Act in a way that shows strong disrespect and insults someone

A face that clearly shows success and happiness

Compounds

96 3.2

Happens when people meet and talk in the same place

The surface of the world or being anywhere in the world

face value
  • Specialized
41 4.4

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

40 2.0

Someone you have seen before and can easily recognize

34 3.9

A face that shows no feeling, often to avoid laughing

pretty face
  • Offensive
33 4.2

An attractive person who others think has nothing besides looks

game face
  • Informal
15 6.5

A serious, focused look people make before a challenge

poker face
  • Informal
12 4.8

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

10 5.3

A tense meeting between two people or groups on opposite sides

8 5.2

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

in-your-face
  • Informal
8 8.4

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

7 3.5

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

7 2.8

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

face lift
  • Specialized
7 4.4

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

face time
  • Jargon
7 4.0

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

about-face
  • Literature
5 7.3

A sudden, complete change of direction or opinion

5 1.3

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

4 1.4

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

4 5.1

A round, chubby face with full cheeks

2 2.8

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

2 2.7

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

2 1.8

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

face recognition
  • Specialized
2 3.1

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

2 3.8

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

1 2.1

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

1 6.0

An action to help someone avoid embarrassment

1 3.0

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

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

1 4.0

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

1 6.3

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

1 7.2

A mask worn to hide the face at a costume party

1 1.6

A mild product used to wash the skin on your face

face time
  • Texting
1 3.5

A live video meeting with one or more people

A piece of bread with toppings and no top slice

1 9.6

A sudden complete change of opinion or plan

1 6.1

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

A face with a chin that sticks out

7.1

The place where work is done and real problems happen

crater face
  • Slang
9.8

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

3.9

Computer systems check who a person is by scanning their face

ewwy face
  • Baby Talk
9.9

A face showing disgust when something tastes or smells bad

face angle
  • Specialized
7.5

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

face pack
  • Indian
3.4

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

face diaper
  • Offensive
9.9

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

5.5

A person who looks attractive on television

face fungus
  • Slang
8.8

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

face lifting
  • Specialized
5.1

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

face lifting
  • Specialized
4.8

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

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

face saver
  • Informal
5.8

Something that helps a person avoid embarrassment or loss of respect

A small towel used to dry the face or hands

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

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

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

hog-face
  • Informal
9.9

An exaggerated face people make to show disgust or disapproval

pudding face
  • Offensive
8.7

A large round face that looks soft and full

pudding-face
  • Offensive
9.9

A round soft face that looks full and chubby

punchable face
  • Offensive
9.1

A face that makes people want to hit the person

red face test
  • Informal
8.1

A way to see if someone looks embarrassed because they blush

resting bitch face
  • Offensive
9.9

A calm face that looks unfriendly or annoyed without meaning to

rich face
  • Literature
9.9

A face that shows strong character and deep feeling

pig face
  • Informal
9.3

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

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

stone-face
  • South African
9.9

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

7.9

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

How Respected

honor
  • US
2.7
prestige
62 5.1
face
350 6.7
standing
217 3.7
reputation
919 3.0
disrepute
6 7.6

Surface Forms

face singular
faces plural

Etymology

Face comes from Latin facies 'appearance', and this idea of public appearance became a word for reputation. That's why keeping or losing face means keeping or losing respect.