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

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

Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick are squaring off again, this time as two of the final coaching candidates being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2027 class. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 Nov. 2026

Basabe had numerous confrontations outside a Miami Beach polling location during early voting, squaring off with campaign volunteers, a police officer and even the Miami-Dade mayor, records and videos show. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

Democratic candidates Ben Allen and Jane Kim are squaring off to become insurance commissioner, presiding over the California Department of Insurance, the nation’s largest state consumer protection agency. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 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