square off

verb

squared off; squaring off; squares off
Synonyms of square offnext

intransitive verb

1
: to take a fighting stance : prepare to fight
also : to fight or argue
squared off in a debate
2
: to compete in a contest
The two teams squared off for the championship.

transitive verb

: to make square : to give (something) straight edges, flat surfaces, or sharp, even corners

Examples of square off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This series will be a fun heat check — with lots of actual heat, as a staff headed by Jacob Misiorowski squares off against a staff back-ended by Mason Miller. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 In the company cafeteria, Hara watched as his coworkers squared off over a game of Go, a board game played with black and white stones on a grid. — HubSpot, 1 Oct. 2026 The New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning square off in Eastern Conference action. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026 The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals are squaring off today in an AFC North matchup during Week 3 of the NFL schedule. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for square off

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of square off was in 1838

Rhymes for square off

See All Rhymes for square off

Browse Nearby Words

square notation
square off
square of opposition
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Square off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square%20off. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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