What does outface mean?
Outface is a relatively uncommon formal verb meaning to confront someone or something with boldness, especially when doing so allows a person to overcome an adversary, danger, or difficulty. The word combines the prefix out- with face, suggesting meeting an opponent directly and refusing to yield. Its basic sense is active and courageous: a person who outfaces a threat faces it rather than avoiding or fleeing from it. It can describe overcoming someone else through a determined encounter, as in outfacing an opponent, or standing firm against danger or adversity. Because the word is literary and somewhat old-fashioned, it is more likely to appear in formal writing, historical prose, or deliberately elevated speech than in ordinary conversation. It should not be confused with outpace, which refers to moving faster than or surpassing someone. Outface emphasizes courage and confrontation rather than speed.
verbTo overcome or put someone at a disadvantage by facing them boldly. It can also mean to confront or stand up to someone or something difficult.
- To overcome or put at a disadvantage by facing someone boldly.
- To confront or stand up to an adversary, danger, or difficulty.
"The young defender refused to outface the more experienced player and maintained his composure."
"She was determined to outface the storm and reach the shelter."
"Few leaders were willing to outface such a powerful opponent."
Outface captures the image of advancing toward a threat instead of turning away from it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of outface
Outface is formed in English by combining the prefix out- with the word face. The element out- in this use conveys overcoming or getting the better of someone by meeting them directly. Face itself comes through Old French from the Latin facies, meaning form, appearance, or the front of the head, and the same Latin root also underlies words such as facial and deface.
Related word forms
How outface is actually used
This is a formal and literary word, now uncommon in everyday English. It normally takes a direct object and conveys deliberate courage or defiance.
Easily confused with outface
Outface means to confront or overcome someone by boldness, whereas outpace means to move faster than or surpass someone in progress.