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
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
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
In a climactic battle that fans have been waiting for since the show’s series premiere, Butcher (Karl Urban) and Homelander (Antony Starr) have a years-in-the-making, bloody face-off.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 20 May 2026
Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Teams that represent particular countries and cultures will face off in matches throughout the two days.
—Emily Harter, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
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Noun
The Republican race has played out as a face-off between the power structures of conservative Texas politics.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
In a climactic battle that fans have been waiting for since the show’s series premiere, Butcher (Karl Urban) and Homelander (Antony Starr) have a years-in-the-making, bloody face-off.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 20 May 2026
Verb
Crowds gathered outside Delaney Hall Saturday as a group supporting ICE faced off with protesters outside the ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Teams that represent particular countries and cultures will face off in matches throughout the two days.
—Emily Harter, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/face-off. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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