square off
verb
squared off; squaring off; squares off
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.
: 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
The teams square off Wednesday for the fourth time this season.
—
ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, the Kings host the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL’s worst team by an 18-point margin, in their penultimate home game of the season before squaring off with arch rival Edmonton.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
The teams square off for a final time on Friday night in Portland, where the Clippers can secure the head-to-head tiebreaker with a win.
—Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Michigan and UConn square off Monday night in Indianapolis in the 2026 NCAA men's basketball national championship game.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for square off
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ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, the Kings host the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL’s worst team by an 18-point margin, in their penultimate home game of the season before squaring off with arch rival Edmonton.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
The teams square off for a final time on Friday night in Portland, where the Clippers can secure the head-to-head tiebreaker with a win.
—Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Michigan and UConn square off Monday night in Indianapolis in the 2026 NCAA men's basketball national championship game.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for square off
Cite this Entry
“Square off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square%20off. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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