about word "face"

[Ann L.]

I read an article with the sentence like below:

".......in the face of what looked like certain defeat. "

in here, what does " face" exactly mean? situation or ?

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Ann L.

I read an article with the sentence like below:

".......in the face of what looked like certain defeat. "

in here, what does " face" exactly mean? situation or ?

Yes, very close situation or very close circumstances.

[river]

in the face of - a. in spite of b. when confronted with (dictionary.com)

[Ann L.]

Thank you , MikeNewYork and River both, I got it.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Ann L.

Thank you , MikeNewYork and River both, I got it.

Great!

[Ann L.]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Great!

Thanks very much.

The part of the article:

When Goliath defied the Lord God, David stood up to him. David trusted God to enable him to do what needed to be done. As a young shepheerd he wanted to do God's will even in the face of what looked like certain defeat. He WAnted to bring glory to God.......

so you think 2answer of River' post to match it most?

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Ann L.

Thanks very much.

The part of the article:

When Goliath defied the Lord God, David stood up to him. David trusted God to enable him to do what needed to be done. As a young shepheerd he wanted to do God's will even in the face of what looked like certain defeat. He WAnted to bring glory to God.......

so you think 2answer of River' post to match it most?

"In spite of" works the best there. I prefer "even though he was close to what looked like certain defeat".

[Ann L.]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

"In spite of" works the best there. I prefer "even though he was close to what looked like certain defeat".

Thanks Mike, now I got it completely.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Ann L.

Thanks Mike, now I got it completely.

You're welcome.