# confront

/kənˈfɹənt/ (US) · /kənfɹˈʌnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confront
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to face a person directly

verb · CEFR B2

to meet someone face to face to talk about a problem or a disagreement.

For teachers: to face someone in a direct or hostile manner, typically to challenge them or address a grievance.

- She decided to confront her manager about the unfair work schedule.
- The protesters gathered outside the embassy to confront the ambassador regarding the recent changes in diplomatic policy.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the person being faced.

### 2. to deal with a problem

verb · CEFR B2

to deal with a difficult situation or a problem instead of ignoring it.

For teachers: to acknowledge and deal with a difficult situation, fact, or problem.

- We need to confront the fact that our current plan is not working.
- The administration must confront the systemic issues within the healthcare department before the crisis worsens further.

Usage: Often used with abstract nouns like 'reality', 'truth', or 'problem'.

### 3. to present evidence

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to show someone evidence or a problem so they have to deal with it.

For teachers: to bring someone face to face with evidence, a crime, or a difficult truth.

- The police confronted the suspect with the video evidence from the shop.
- During the cross-examination, the lawyer confronted the witness with a series of contradictory statements from his previous deposition.

Usage: Commonly follows the pattern 'confront someone with something'.

## Examples

- I need to confront my boss about the schedule.
- The community must confront the reality of rising sea levels before the next storm season begins.
- The protagonist is eventually forced to confront the moral consequences of his earlier decisions, leading to a tense and emotionally charged resolution in the final act.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.