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
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
The protagonist is a war photographer named Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), who, while covering a face-off between protesters and police in New York, protects and counsels an enthusiastic tyro photographer, Jessie (Cailee Spaeny), who’s underexperienced and underequipped.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2024
Who had triumphed in the face-off between sleek practicality and sensual excess?
—Lena Dunham, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
There, the team would play for 18 years, dropping the first puck on Dec. 27, 2003 in a face-off against the Nashville Predators.
—The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 May 2024
The Meg and the Entity from Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning won’t face off for Best Villain.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 13 May 2024
The winners of those matches will face off on the 17th in the final.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2024
Clark's Indiana Fever faces off against the Connecticut Sun.
—Kristina Behr, Parents, 11 May 2024
Now Harvard-Westlake and Orange Lutheran will face off for a fourth time this season.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
The winner in the Senate will face off against Democrat Toni Ferro.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 10 May 2024
Bunting and school banners have been replaced with tents and barricades as students have faced off with chants and dialogue that occasionally has veered into antisemitism, leading to police crackdowns and student suspensions.
—Connor Michael Greene, New York Times, 7 May 2024
This series will also be a test for Mavs centers Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford who will face off with rookie sensation Chet Holmgren.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2024
Noun
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
The protagonist is a war photographer named Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), who, while covering a face-off between protesters and police in New York, protects and counsels an enthusiastic tyro photographer, Jessie (Cailee Spaeny), who’s underexperienced and underequipped.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2024
Who had triumphed in the face-off between sleek practicality and sensual excess?
—Lena Dunham, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
There, the team would play for 18 years, dropping the first puck on Dec. 27, 2003 in a face-off against the Nashville Predators.
—The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
Next week, Group B winner Gumball will face off against Group A winner Goldfish for the finale.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 May 2024
The Meg and the Entity from Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning won’t face off for Best Villain.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 13 May 2024
The winners of those matches will face off on the 17th in the final.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2024
Clark's Indiana Fever faces off against the Connecticut Sun.
—Kristina Behr, Parents, 11 May 2024
Now Harvard-Westlake and Orange Lutheran will face off for a fourth time this season.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
The winner in the Senate will face off against Democrat Toni Ferro.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 10 May 2024
Bunting and school banners have been replaced with tents and barricades as students have faced off with chants and dialogue that occasionally has veered into antisemitism, leading to police crackdowns and student suspensions.
—Connor Michael Greene, New York Times, 7 May 2024
This series will also be a test for Mavs centers Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford who will face off with rookie sensation Chet Holmgren.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 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 18 May. 2024.
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