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

Ospreay squared off against Samoa Joe in the first round of the Owen Hart Men’s Tournament. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026

As Danny and Lena squared off against thieves, smugglers, and serial killers, Boston Blue also explored the tangled branches of the Silver family tree. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026

The former mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, was a true disruptor in Mexican politics who dared to square off against cartel leaders. —Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026

All hell is unleashed as the aliens representing all kinds of shapes and class divisions from that planet square off with the locals. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 May 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