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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Iyo Sky, Roxanne Perez, Giulia and Lash Legend squared off in a fatal four-way match with a spot in the semifinals waiting for the winner. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 Those teams square off Saturday in a winner’s bracket game. Daily News, 30 May 2026 The candidates will square off on June 30 in the Democratic primary, with the winner going on to face Evans in November. John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 Your daily routine may feel heavier when Venus squares off with Saturn. Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for square off

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of square off was in 1838

Cite this Entry

“Square off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square%20off. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

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