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
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday morning, billionaire Tom Steyer — a Democrat — proposed holding an alternative face-off, with KNBC moderating.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
From Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
One of the most celebrated modern uses of pickles occurred during an NFL game in 2000 when the Philadelphia Eagles faced off against the Dallas Cowboys on a day when the temperature was a blistering 109 degrees Fahrenheit.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
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Noun
Looking for joy is a good way to bond with one another, though contrasting energy arrives in the Moon’s face-off with Pluto, asking us to balance attention with power-sharing.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday morning, billionaire Tom Steyer — a Democrat — proposed holding an alternative face-off, with KNBC moderating.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
The UConn men’s basketball team will face off on Saturday against Illinois in the Final Four.
—From Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
One of the most celebrated modern uses of pickles occurred during an NFL game in 2000 when the Philadelphia Eagles faced off against the Dallas Cowboys on a day when the temperature was a blistering 109 degrees Fahrenheit.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 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 Apr. 2026.
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