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
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
The father, a former super middleweight champion, slammed his son during a recent interview with Seconds Out for the latter’s actions during a face-off with Conor Benn, the son of Sr.'s arch rival, Nigel Benn.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Emma Specter, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Before that fight, Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez face off, also at welterweight.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
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Noun
Wild goose wins face-off with tiger in zoo enclosure.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
The father, a former super middleweight champion, slammed his son during a recent interview with Seconds Out for the latter’s actions during a face-off with Conor Benn, the son of Sr.'s arch rival, Nigel Benn.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and his wife, Anaida Poilievre, on Monday
Photo: Getty Images
Carney faced off against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who went on to also lose his seat in the Parliament of Canada to Bruce Fanjoy.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Before that fight, Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez face off, also at welterweight.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
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 5 May. 2025.
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