square off
verb
squared off; squaring off; squares off
: to take a fighting stance : prepare to fight
also
: fight
Examples of square off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With a number of other Dallas-area teams squaring off in rivalry matchups this week, The Dallas Morning News searched for the most competitive D-FW rivalries over the last decade.
—
Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
A couple thousand spectators had gathered in the Colonial-era tourist town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, about 80 miles from Washington, D.C., to watch the cowboys square off in a competition unique to the Chesapeake Bay: boat docking.
—Jason Nark Kent Nishimura, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
The moon’s square off with Neptune is ideal for imaginative inventions.
—USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023
Your significant relationships can thrive as the Moon moves through your 7th House of Connections, but that energy takes a deep dive while the Moon squares off uncertain Neptune in your 4th House of Feelings.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023
Journal Editorial Report: GOP candidates square off in first primary debate and clash over aid to Ukraine.
—WSJ, 5 Sep. 2023
That may very well change this Saturday when Walsh squares off with Sona Akale (7-1-0) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Okla.
—Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2023
The Eagles and Patriots will square off and the Bills and Jets, division rivals with a pair of star quarterbacks, will go head to head.
—Bychris Morris, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2023
Two of the top-four teams in the area will square off as No. 4 Prestonwood Christian hosts No. 2 Fort Worth All Saints in a matchup bound to impact the area’s rankings.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 10 Sep. 2023
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Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
A couple thousand spectators had gathered in the Colonial-era tourist town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, about 80 miles from Washington, D.C., to watch the cowboys square off in a competition unique to the Chesapeake Bay: boat docking.
—Jason Nark Kent Nishimura, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
The moon’s square off with Neptune is ideal for imaginative inventions.
—USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023
Your significant relationships can thrive as the Moon moves through your 7th House of Connections, but that energy takes a deep dive while the Moon squares off uncertain Neptune in your 4th House of Feelings.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023
Journal Editorial Report: GOP candidates square off in first primary debate and clash over aid to Ukraine.
—WSJ, 5 Sep. 2023
That may very well change this Saturday when Walsh squares off with Sona Akale (7-1-0) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Okla.
—Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2023
The Eagles and Patriots will square off and the Bills and Jets, division rivals with a pair of star quarterbacks, will go head to head.
—Bychris Morris, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2023
Two of the top-four teams in the area will square off as No. 4 Prestonwood Christian hosts No. 2 Fort Worth All Saints in a matchup bound to impact the area’s rankings.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 10 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'square off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1837, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near square off
Cite this Entry
“Square off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square%20off. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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