square off

verb

squared off; squaring off; squares off

intransitive verb

1

: to take a fighting stance : prepare to fight

also : to fight or argue

squared off in a debate

2

: to compete in a contest

The two teams squared off for the championship.

transitive verb

: to make square : to give (something) straight edges, flat surfaces, or sharp, even corners

Examples of square off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fairfield hosts Saint Joseph’s (Brooklyn) and NJIT squares off against Fairleigh Dickinson on the road. — ABC News, 14 Nov. 2026

Purrazzo and Maclin will take on VSK and Emily Jaye, Goldy will go up against Griffin McCoy Tiara James will square off against Tina San Antonio and Oxx Adams will face off against Marcus Mathers. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026

The first meeting between Jaylen Brown’s 76ers and Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics was the first time the former teammates would square off since Brown was sent packing from Beantown over the summer. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026

Alabama fans will get the chance to watch two of the program’s most prolific offensive players square off Sunday in Carolina. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for square off

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