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
Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 14 June 2024
His arrest set off a political face-off between Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024
Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2024
The blacks and the greens are both gathering their forces, dragons and new allies to face off in a bloody, fiery battle to the death.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for face-off 
Noun
One of the most satisfying scenes in the show is Dot’s face-off against Lorraine, her docile husband’s fierce businesswoman mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh).
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 14 June 2024
His arrest set off a political face-off between Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024
Verb
Some candidates will face off during a primary election on Aug. 20; others in the general election on Nov. 5.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2024
The blacks and the greens are both gathering their forces, dragons and new allies to face off in a bloody, fiery battle to the death.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for face-off
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 2 Jul. 2024.
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