face-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈfās-ˌȯf 

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

: confrontation

face off

2 of 2

verb

faced off; facing off; faces off

intransitive verb

: to be in or come into opposition or competition

politicians facing off against each other in a televised debate

Synonyms of face-off

Noun

• rivalry
• battle
• duel
• competition
• confrontation
• struggle
• warfare
• contest
• conflict

Verb

• compete
• contend
• race

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

Noun

Bigger and bigger crowds flocked down here as Mexico tore through the Cup before its face-off against England, with many coming from outside Santa Ana. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

In this unofficial but unavoidable national holiday face-off between two people who have been public in their dislike for each other, Swift gets to fire the first shot. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Verb

Colombia and Switzerland faced off last Tuesday to determine who would make it to the quarterfinals in Kansas City. — Julianna Mejia july 11, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2026

The French and Moroccan sides, which faced off on Thursday, are cases in point. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1948, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for face-off

• cerenkov
• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff

Kids Definition

face-off

1 of 2 noun

ˈfā-ˌsȯf

1

: a method of putting a puck in play in ice hockey by dropping it between two opposing players

2

: a meeting of opposing forces : confrontation

face off

2 of 2 verb

: to be in or come into opposition or competition

politicians facing off each other in a debate