# facing

/ˈfeɪsɪŋ/ (US) · /fˈeɪsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/facing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. looking toward

verb · CEFR B1

looking in a certain direction or being opposite something.

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

- We chose a hotel room facing the ocean so we could watch the sunrise.
- The apartment features a large balcony facing the park, providing a rare sense of tranquility in the heart of the city.

### 2. dealing with

verb · CEFR B1

dealing with a difficult situation or problem.

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

- The company is facing many financial problems this year.
- Facing an unprecedented budget deficit, the local council was forced to make difficult decisions regarding public services.

### 3. building surface

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The workers are applying a new stone facing to the front of the library.
- The architect specified a granite facing for the ground floor to ensure the building's exterior remained durable against heavy foot traffic.

### 4. clothing edge

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

- The tailor used a silk facing for the collar of the jacket.
- The pattern requires a contrasting facing on the cuffs to provide a subtle flash of colour when the sleeves are rolled up.

### 5. military uniform

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

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

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

- The soldiers wore red coats with yellow facings on their sleeves.
- The historical museum displays several nineteenth-century infantry tunics, each distinguished by the unique colour of its facings.

### 6. positioned toward

adjective · CEFR B2

turned or positioned toward a specific direction.

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

- The south-facing garden gets a lot of sunlight during the day.
- The developer prioritised east-facing windows in the design to maximise the amount of natural morning light in the living areas.

## Examples

- The soldier's uniform has red facing on the collar.
- The architect chose a stone facing for the building to help it blend in with the historic neighborhood.
- While the primary fabric of the tunic was a durable wool, the silk facing on the lapels served as a prestigious marker of the officer's elite status within the cavalry.

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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.