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

Sunday, September 13, 2026 will see the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) square off against the Atlanta Falcons (0-0) at Acrisure Stadium. — Data Skrive, New York Times, 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

Webb figures he's got the best of both worlds, having his play-calling mentor by his side and squaring off against defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Denver's stout defense all summer. — Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026

Avoid making a mountain out of a molehill as the moon and Saturn square off. — Usa Today, USA Today, 6 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