Phrase guide

in the face of

prep · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

prep

Meaning 1

When confronted with.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • in the face of growing pressure, the company changed its logo
  • Laugh in the face of adversity.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep

Meaning 2

Despite; against; contrary to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2018, Vassilis Vassilikos, ... And Dreams Are Dreams His daughters were serious. In fact the elder one had joined the Communist Youth, where the kids were almost puritanical, growing up with principles in the face of the triple enemy: capitalism-imperialism-Americanocracy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep

Meaning 3

On the face of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: tváří v tvář — Translations
  • Czech: s ohledem na — Translations
  • German: angesichts — Translations
  • Italian: di fronte — Translations
  • Italian: nonostante — Translations
  • Polish: w obliczu — Translations
  • Spanish: ante — Translations