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.
Now even more protesters, some in kaffiyehs, squared off with ICE. Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Mixed martial arts fighters are squaring off on the White House South Lawn for UFC Freedom 250, culminating in a main card fight between Georgian-Spanish Ilia Topuria and American Justin Gaethje for the undisputed UFC lightweight championship. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 14 June 2026 As the Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies squared off in a series earlier this week, news surfaced that the latter’s Double-A affiliate will be honoring Yesavage, who is from Boyertown, Pennsylvania, with a bobblehead depicting him in his high school jersey next month. Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 The winners will square off at Night of Champions. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 June 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

Cite this Entry

“Square off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square%20off. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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