face about

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle about

Meanings

1

Pivot to face the opposite direction

Opposite Wayrare

Why “about”? You turn to face the opposite direction.

“The soldiers faced about on command.”
The soldiers pivoted to face the opposite way on command.
“The rider made the horse face about on the path.”
The rider made the horse turn to face the other way.

Don't confuse with

face aboutface down

Face about means pivot to face the opposite direction. Face down means confront a challenge or opponent directly.

Test yourself

“The soldiers faced about on command.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

face down

A contrast learners often mix up

Confront a challenge or opponent directly

come about

Same about pattern: opposite way

Happen, especially in an unplanned way; Of a ship, change tack to the opposite side

turn about

Same about pattern: opposite way

Reverse direction by 180°

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