1
: a method of beginning play (as in hockey or lacrosse) in which two opponents face each other and attempt to gain control of a puck or ball dropped or placed between them
2
faced off; facing off; faces off
: to be in or come into opposition or competition
politicians facing off against each other in a televised debate
Synonyms
Examples of face-off in a Sentence
Noun
the annual fall face-off between these traditional rivals is a big event for both football-mad colleges
Verb
eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival
Recent Examples on the Web
Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
The 2024 presidential elections will see another face-off between incumbent Democrat president Joe Biden and former president and presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 16 May 2024
Pole vault face-off: The under-the-radar showdown of the meet?
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
The president is looking to ratchet up pressure on China and demonstrate his willingness to protect American manufacturing ahead of his face-off against Mr. Trump in the November presidential election.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 10 May 2024
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is set to face-off against President Biden in a rematch of the 2020 contest.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 8 May 2024
Elsewhere in the store, their face-off continued, starting with two draws before — finally!
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 5 May 2024
An essential factor in the series will be the battle between face-off specialists.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024
Patrick, arguably the better player but less diligent worker, agrees to let Art win their face-off in the singles tournament the next day.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2024
In terms of competitors, Apple would potentially face off against the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 if a foldable iPhone were to hit the market.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 May 2024
Voters in Oregon will select the Democratic and Republican candidates that will face off in a number of general election Congressional races that could determine which party controls the House next year.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
The game is designed for two or four players who face off around the collapsible net — pickleball and paddle in hand.
—Lizzy Briskin, Peoplemag, 21 May 2024
Friday night, Luzardo and Scott, two pitchers who grew up in nearby Parkland —about a 45-minute drive northwest of loanDepot park — and starred as high schoolers in Broward County, faced off as opposing starters in the Marlins-Mets series opener.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 18 May 2024
The festival offers hot slaw makers, both amateur and professional, the chance to face off in competition, as judges dip Ruffles potato chips and dole out bragging rights from outside the Bradley County Courthouse.
—Emily Cochrane Audra Melton, New York Times, 18 May 2024
By leaving for a rival group? Sports thrives on fiery rivalries, but when the Yankees and Red Sox face off, there is not a chance one organization will crumble in the process.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024
Next week, Group B winner Gumball will face off against Group A winner Goldfish for the finale.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 May 2024
Noun
Voters in Oregon, meanwhile, will select the Democratic and Republican candidates that will face-off in a number of general election Congressional races that could determine which party controls the House next year.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
The 2024 presidential elections will see another face-off between incumbent Democrat president Joe Biden and former president and presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 16 May 2024
Pole vault face-off: The under-the-radar showdown of the meet?
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
The president is looking to ratchet up pressure on China and demonstrate his willingness to protect American manufacturing ahead of his face-off against Mr. Trump in the November presidential election.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 10 May 2024
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is set to face-off against President Biden in a rematch of the 2020 contest.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 8 May 2024
Elsewhere in the store, their face-off continued, starting with two draws before — finally!
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 5 May 2024
An essential factor in the series will be the battle between face-off specialists.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024
Patrick, arguably the better player but less diligent worker, agrees to let Art win their face-off in the singles tournament the next day.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Verb
The Eagles and Tigers will face off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at Steer Field in Graham with Game 3, if necessary, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday at Weatherford College.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2024
In terms of competitors, Apple would potentially face off against the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 if a foldable iPhone were to hit the market.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 May 2024
Voters in Oregon will select the Democratic and Republican candidates that will face off in a number of general election Congressional races that could determine which party controls the House next year.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
The game is designed for two or four players who face off around the collapsible net — pickleball and paddle in hand.
—Lizzy Briskin, Peoplemag, 21 May 2024
Friday night, Luzardo and Scott, two pitchers who grew up in nearby Parkland —about a 45-minute drive northwest of loanDepot park — and starred as high schoolers in Broward County, faced off as opposing starters in the Marlins-Mets series opener.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 18 May 2024
The festival offers hot slaw makers, both amateur and professional, the chance to face off in competition, as judges dip Ruffles potato chips and dole out bragging rights from outside the Bradley County Courthouse.
—Emily Cochrane Audra Melton, New York Times, 18 May 2024
By leaving for a rival group? Sports thrives on fiery rivalries, but when the Yankees and Red Sox face off, there is not a chance one organization will crumble in the process.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024
Next week, Group B winner Gumball will face off against Group A winner Goldfish for the finale.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'face-off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near face-off
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/face-off. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
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