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 series has some of the beats of a crime-romance-family drama, but also heightened visual moments such as Shannon levitating, or the rival crime families squaring off in a operatic slow-mo sequence. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026

The Pilots and Waves square off Wednesday for the first time in WCC play this season. —ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026

Both teams will square off in region finals matches Tuesday night. —Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026

Sometimes wrestlers have even portrayed real political figures, as when impersonators of then-Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton squared off during the 2008 presidential campaign. —Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 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