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
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2025
These characters find themselves in puzzling face-offs that verge on magical realism, as when a young man sitting in the back of an ambulance with his dying father realizes the driver has been asleep for miles.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
Republican nominee Matt Van Epps and Democratic nominee Aftyn Behn will face off in the general election to fill the congressional seat.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
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Noun
The Colorado vet wristed a rebound past goaltender Kevin Lankinen from the left face-off circle with 32 seconds left in the first period — a score that got the Avs off their collective duffs and onto the scoreboard.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2025
These characters find themselves in puzzling face-offs that verge on magical realism, as when a young man sitting in the back of an ambulance with his dying father realizes the driver has been asleep for miles.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
The three candidates will face off in the state Republican primary election in September.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
Republican nominee Matt Van Epps and Democratic nominee Aftyn Behn will face off in the general election to fill the congressional seat.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Dec. 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 Dec. 2025.
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