face-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈfās-ˌȯf 

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

: confrontation

face off

2 of 2

verb

faced off; facing off; faces off

intransitive verb

: to be in or come into opposition or competition

politicians facing off against each other in a televised debate

Synonyms of face-off

Noun

• rivalry
• battle
• duel
• competition
• confrontation
• struggle
• warfare
• contest
• conflict

Verb

• compete
• contend
• race

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

Noun

Remember Season 4’s gargantuan closing episode, which clocked in at 2 hours and 19 minutes and set the stage for one final face-off against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower)? —Dan Heching, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025

Marshall saves his third slap for a grand Turkey Day face-off and continues the holiday ritual in the following years. —Shay Spence, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Verb

Each quadrant’s winner will face off on Friday, before the final head-to-head on Monday, November 24th to crown our winner. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

In the next three games, Green Bay will face off against Minnesota, the Detroit Lions, and the Chicago Bears. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1948, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for face-off

• cerenkov
• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff

Kids Definition

face-off

1 of 2 noun

ˈfā-ˌsȯf

1

: a method of putting a puck in play in ice hockey by dropping it between two opposing players

2

: a meeting of opposing forces : confrontation

face off

2 of 2 verb

: to be in or come into opposition or competition

politicians facing off each other in a debate