Meaning & use
gamefaces
Last updated
“gamefaces” is a form of “gameface”.
Meanings
nouncountableinformal
The serious, determined expressions people put on when they are about to compete or face something difficult.
Grammar: Countable and usually plural here; the singular is 'game face' and it takes a possessive word before it: put on your game face.
Patterns
- put on your gamefaces
- have your gamefaces on
- wear your gamefaces
The players put on their gamefaces as they walked out onto the field.
She told the team to get their gamefaces on before the interview.
You could see their gamefaces switch on the moment the whistle blew.
nouncountablefigurativeinformal
A calm, unemotional look that hides what someone is really thinking or feeling.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'keep' or 'put on' when talking about hiding emotions.
Patterns
- keep your gamefaces on
- put on a gameface
He kept his gameface on even after the bad news.
They held their gamefaces through the whole meeting.
Word forms
| singular | game face |
|---|
Common combinations
- put on your gamefaces
- The coach shouted at them to put on their gamefaces.
- get your gamefaces on
- Get your gamefaces on, everyone — we start in two minutes.
- keep your gamefaces on
- Try to keep your gamefaces on until the cameras stop.
- wear a game face
- She wore a game face all through the trial.
Synonyms and how they differ
- poker face
- This means a blank expression that hides your feelings, but it does not suggest the readiness or determination that 'game face' does.
- straight face
- This describes not laughing or smiling; it is about staying serious rather than showing competitive focus.
Word family
- game face noun
- The singular form, meaning the determined expression itself.
Commonly confused: gamefaces or game face?
gamefaces vs game face
'Game face' is the singular and is standard; 'gamefaces' is only its plural, so do not use it for one person's expression.
Practice
Which sentence uses the plural form correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Gamefaces' is plural, so it goes with a plural subject and possessive such as 'they' and 'their'. Option 0 uses a singular subject with the plural noun, option 2 uses the singular noun with a plural subject, and option 3 mixes a singular subject with a plural possessive.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gamefaces”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.