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
Manasi Pathak, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Now, the candidates for New York City mayor have taken their face-off to the gym − specifically, the bench press rack.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Flag moment aside, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faced off against the Jets for the first time since getting cut from the team in February.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
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Noun
But before his last-four clash with the Serb on Saturday, Alcaraz will swing more than his tennis racquet, facing compatriot and 2017 Masters champion, Sergio Garcia, in a golf face-off.
—Manasi Pathak, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Now, the candidates for New York City mayor have taken their face-off to the gym − specifically, the bench press rack.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
In Week 2, Philadelphia will face off against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of last year's Super Bowl.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Flag moment aside, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faced off against the Jets for the first time since getting cut from the team in February.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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