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face

/ˈfeɪ̯s/
nounverb

FACE meaning: the front of a head, and also a public image, reputation, or boldness; it scores 9 points in Scrabble.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 4 meanings

  1. The front part of the head of a human or other animal, featuring the eyes, nose, and mouth, and the surrounding area.

    “That girl has a pretty face.”

  2. Public image; outward appearance.

    “Our chairman is the face of this company.”

  3. Good reputation; standing, in the eyes of others; dignity; prestige.

  4. Shameless confidence; boldness; effrontery.

    “You've got some face coming round here after what you've done.”

Verb 4 meanings

  1. To position oneself or itself so as to have one's face closest to (something).

    “Face the sun.”

  2. To have its front closest to, or in the direction of (something else).

    “Turn the chair so it faces the table.”

  3. To cause (something) to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction.

  4. To improve the display of stock by ensuring items aren't upside down or back to front and are pulled forwards.

    “I've put out the stock and broken down the boxes, it's just facing left to do.”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English face, from Old French face, from Late Latin facia, from Latin faciēs (“form, appearance”). Doublet of facies.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
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Face is a familiar four-letter word with several distinct senses: the front of a head, the image someone presents, a good reputation, or shameless confidence. For word games, its appeal is more than its everyday meaning. The F supplies four of its nine Scrabble points, and changing just one letter connects FACE to words such as FACT, RACE, and FAKE.

FACE at a glance

  • FACE is a common four-letter word for the front of a head.
  • Its Scrabble value is 9 points, with F worth four and C worth three.
  • CAFE is its only anagram, using the same four letters in a new order.
  • FACT, RACE, FAKE, and PACE are among its one-letter neighbors.
  • FACE begins with F and ends with E, two useful clues for narrowing a word search.

FACE meaning and its everyday senses

The most direct meaning of face is the front part of a human or animal head, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and surrounding area. The word also describes a public image or outward appearance. A person can save face by protecting their standing, or lose face when others’ respect slips.

Face has a sharper sense, too: shameless confidence or effrontery. That meaning appears in phrases about someone having the nerve to do something. The same word therefore covers both a visible feature and an attitude, a range that makes FACE more than a simple body-part entry.

What is the FACE Scrabble score?

FACE scores 9 points before any board bonuses: F is 4, A is 1, C is 3, and E is 1. The F carries the most weight, so placing it on a premium letter square is the main scoring opportunity. The other three tiles add five points together.

A one-letter change produces 17 neighbors, including the familiar FACT, RACE, FAKE, PACE, FATE, and FAME. Some options are much less familiar, so check your game’s word list before playing an obscure one. FACE has just one anagram, CAFE; it is a rearrangement, not a meaning of face.

Rhymes with face

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest

Questions people ask

Is FACE a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, FACE is a valid four-letter word in Collins, NWL2023, and ENABLE. It names the front of a head and has other meanings, including public image and reputation. Its base Scrabble value is 9 points, before any letter or word-square bonuses.
What is the anagram of FACE?
CAFE is the only anagram of FACE. It uses the same F, A, C, and E tiles in a different order. The two words have separate meanings: face can mean the front of a head, while cafe refers to a place serving drinks or meals.
What does FACE mean besides the front of the head?
FACE can mean a person’s public image or outward appearance, and it can refer to good reputation or standing. It also has a less flattering sense: shameless confidence or effrontery. These meanings give the common word several uses beyond its literal anatomical one.

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