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

The winners of the morning semifinal matches will square off in the final match Friday afternoon. — Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026

As someone who went to each World Cup match at Levi’s Stadium, the electricity of the atmosphere far exceeded expectations, even when smaller countries like Jordan and Algeria squared off. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

The division of the Fromvillians should also have been set in motion by this point, with two clear factions squaring off. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Barkley was in town to square off with the Orlando Magic, who kicked off play in 1989 at the Orlando Arena, built for $110 million using entirely public money. — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 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