ENGLISH
REFERENCE

facing

v. · n. · adj.
US //ˈfeɪsɪŋ// UK //fˈeɪsɪŋ// fac·ing
  1. 1 looking toward (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    looking in a certain direction or being opposite something.

    the present participle of 'face', indicating spatial orientation toward a specific direction or object.

    Example

    We chose a hotel room facing the ocean so we could watch the sunrise.

    Example

    The apartment features a large balcony facing the park, providing a rare sense of tranquility in the heart of the city.

  2. 2 dealing with (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    dealing with a difficult situation or problem.

    the present participle of 'face', used to describe the act of confronting or being forced to deal with a challenge.

    Example

    The company is facing many financial problems this year.

    Example

    Facing an unprecedented budget deficit, the local council was forced to make difficult decisions regarding public services.

Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 building surface (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    an outer layer of stone or brick put on a wall to make it look better.

    a layer of material applied to the surface of a wall or structure for decorative or protective purposes.

    Example

    The workers are applying a new stone facing to the front of the library.

    Example

    The architect specified a granite facing for the ground floor to ensure the building's exterior remained durable against heavy foot traffic.

  2. 4 clothing edge (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    a piece of fabric sewn onto the edge of a garment to finish it or make it stronger.

    a piece of fabric used to finish the raw edges of a garment, such as at the neckline or armhole, usually turned to the inside.

    Example

    The tailor used a silk facing for the collar of the jacket.

    Example

    The pattern requires a contrasting facing on the cuffs to provide a subtle flash of colour when the sleeves are rolled up.

  3. 5 military uniform (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Military

    the colourful parts of a military jacket, like the collar and cuffs.

    the trimmings of a different colour on the collar, cuffs, and lapels of a military uniform, historically used to identify different regiments.

    Example

    The soldiers wore red coats with yellow facings on their sleeves.

    Example

    The historical museum displays several nineteenth-century infantry tunics, each distinguished by the unique colour of its facings.

  4. 6 positioned toward (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    turned or positioned toward a specific direction.

    positioned or oriented so as to face a particular direction; often used in compound adjectives.

    Example

    The south-facing garden gets a lot of sunlight during the day.

    Example

    The developer prioritised east-facing windows in the design to maximise the amount of natural morning light in the living areas.

© 2026 English Reference