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

Carter mostly lined up on Dallas’ right tackle, with Brian Burns squaring off with the left tackle. — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Two historic blue blood programs, squaring off on campus and not at Mercedes-Benz Stadium or some other unaffiliated NFL venue. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Conservative talk radio host Chris Stigall is the GOP nominee who will square off against Democrat Josh Smead, a licensed architect and general contractor. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026

Republicans Aarron Guckian and Elaine Pelino will square off to be the GOP candidate in November. — Sophia Vlahakis, CBS News, 9 Sep. 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