face to face
Across from someone
Face to face describes being in someone's immediate physical presence, close enough to see their face directly: We'd only ever emailed—this was our first time meeting face to face.
The phrase emphasizes directness and proximity, often contrasting with remote communication.
As an adjective before a noun, it's hyphenated: a face-to-face conversation, face-to-face learning.
Unexpected meeting or confrontation
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
- consultationMeeting seeking expert guidance
interview · audience · appointment · rendezvous · gathering · reunion · summit · conference
Decisive final confrontation
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
argument · conflict · challenge · opposition · tension · disagreement · quarrel · debate
encounter
Unexpected meeting or confrontation
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
consultation · interview · audience · appointment · rendezvous · gathering · reunion · summit · conference · parley
showdown
Decisive final confrontation
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
dispute · argument · conflict · challenge · opposition · tension · disagreement · quarrel · debate · struggle
- closenessclose by, close contact, close-knit, next door, up close
- showdownsshowdown, faceoff, confrontation, duel, clash
- Client Workaccount manager, consultation, meeting, follow-up, check-in
- gradual phrasesbit by bit, little by little, step by step, one by one, piece by piece
- dance positionsfirst position, second position, fifth position, arabesque, attitude
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
face to faceremote
Distant or controller
long-distance · from afar · virtually · in absentia · separated
face to faceonline
Network-connected state
virtual · remote · electronically · digitally · distant
face to facebehind one's back
face, surface, facing, faced, faces, deface, faceless, preface, surfaced