facedown

[ adverb feys-doun; noun feys-doun ]

adverb

1. with the face or the front or upper surface downward:

   He was lying facedown on the floor. Deal the cards facedown on the table.

noun

1. Also face-down. Informal. a direct confrontation; showdown.

Word History and Origins

Origin of facedown¹

1930–35; facedown ( def 1 ) face + down ¹; facedown ( def 2 ) noun use of verb phrase face down

Example Sentences

Wilson’s altercation with Pavel Buchnevich and Artemi Panarin — in which he dealt a blow near the head of a facedown Buchnevich then threw Panarin to the ground, twice — resulted in Wilson receiving a $5,000 fine.

From Washington Post

The $5,000 fine was a result of Wilson striking Buchnevich in the back of the head while he was facedown on the ice.

From Washington Post

In a 6-3 loss Monday to the visiting Capitals, a second-period fracas saw Washington’s Tom Wilson strike New York’s Pavel Buchnevich in the back of the head while Buchnevich was laying facedown on the ice.

From Washington Post

Another struggle ensued, with Pesoa ending up facedown on a sidewalk, still in handcuffs.

From Washington Post

He was convicted because he slammed his knee into a man who was handcuffed and lying facedown.

From Washington Post

Carter looked at Gallegos, who was lying facedown next to them.

From The Daily Beast

Even more emphatically, Urquhart—with a roguish smile—turns her picture facedown on his desk.

From The Daily Beast

The clerk had another clipboard with another form, as well as a facedown photo.

From The Daily Beast

And while I no longer collapse facedown in my food, I have fallen asleep in some pretty unlikely places.

From The Daily Beast

It features a young woman, facedown in front of her fiancé's grave, whispering to him.

From The Daily Beast

He saw himself lying facedown, nearly nude on the rack, his blond hair darkened and plastered down with sweat.

From Project Gutenberg