enfrentar

to confront

enfrentar(ehm-frehn-tahr)

transitive verb

1. (to deal with)

a. to confront

Las autoridades enfrentaron al sospechoso tan pronto como lo encontraron.

The authorities confronted the suspect as soon as they found him.

Tienes que enfrentar tus miedos si quieres avanzar en la vida.

You have to confront your fears if you want to advance in life.

b. to face

Debes enfrentar tus problemas y no enterrar la cabeza en la arena.

You should face your problems and not bury your head in the sand.

2. (to be positioned towards)

a. to face

Nuestra casa enfrenta a la plaza del pueblo.

Our house faces the town square.

b. to put face to face

Enfrentamos las piezas de ajedrez antes de jugar.

We put the chess pieces face to face before playing.

3. (to make enemies)

a. to set against

La guerra civil enfrentó a muchos hermanos.

The civil war set many brothers against one another.

enfrentarse

pronominal verb

4. (to brave; used with "a")

a. to face

Debes enfrentarte a tus miedos y abordar ese avión.

You should face your fears and board that plane.

5. (to quarrel)

a. to fight

Los carneros son conocidos por enfrentarse para establecer su territorio.

Rams are known for fighting to establish their territory.

reciprocal verb

6. (sports; used with "a")

a. to meet

Esta noche Barcelona se enfrentará al Real Madrid en la Copa del Rey.

Barcelona will meet Real Madrid tonight in the Copa del Rey.

enfrentar

transitive verb

1. (poner frente a frente)

a. to bring face to face

2. (hacer frente a)

a. to confront, to face

enfrentan el futuro con inquietudthey face the future with unease

pronominal verb

3. (general)

a.

enfrentarse ato confront, to face

se enfrentó a su enfermedad con valorshe faced up to her illness bravely

nos enfrentamos al enemigowe confronted the enemy

4. (dos bandos)

a. to meet, to clash

los dos equipos se enfrentarán por el campeonatothe two teams will play each other for the championship

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enfrentar

transitive verb

1 (enemistar) to set against

la herencia enfrentó a los dos hermanos the inheritance set the two brothers against each other o at loggerheads

2 (afrontar) [+dificultad] to face (up to); confront; [+realidad] to face (up to)

tienes que enfrentar el problema you have to face (up to) o confront the problem

3 (encarar)

este partido enfrentará a los dos mejores tenistas this match will bring together the two best tennis players; this match will bring the two best tennis players face to face

pronominal verb

enfrentarse

1 (pelear) [+personas] to have a confrontation; [+equipos] to face each other

Juan y su padre se enfrentaron durante la comida Juan and his father had a confrontation over lunch; hoy se enfrentan el Madrid y el Barcelona today Madrid and Barcelona are facing each other

2

enfrentarse a o con

[+persona] to confront

a pesar de inferioridad numérica, decidieron enfrentarse a las tropas rusas

se enfrentó a sus secuestradores he confronted his kidnappers; se enfrentaron al enemigo they faced o confronted the enemy; la selección de España se enfrentó a la de Italia the Spanish team came up against o faced the Italian team

[+problema, dificultad] to face (up to); confront

se niega a enfrentarse a la realidad he refuses to face (up to) reality; hay que enfrentarse con el peligro we have to face up to the danger