stand·off
ˈstand-ˌȯf 
1
2
: used for holding something at a distance from a surface
a standoff insulator
stood off; standing off; stands off
Synonyms
Examples of standoff in a Sentence
Noun
The two governments are currently in a standoff over who has rights to the land.
after two hours they had played to a 5–5 standoff
Adjective
the client's standoff attitude suggested that this was going to be a strictly business relationship
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
An elderly woman and two children remained inside the house during the standoff, police said.
—Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
The standoff reflects how a decades-long battle over the character and future of the Jewish state has become graver since Oct. 7.
—Johnatan Reiss, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Escalatory cycles in regional standoffs are hard to contain when hawks on both sides urge their leaders to undertake more dramatic retaliation—as when some Republican members of Congress called the Biden administration to seek reprisals against Iran after the Kataib Hezbollah incident.
—Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
The escalating situation prompted Tucson police to seek assistance from the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety to resolve the standoff.
—The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
The Gilmore incident comes eight days after deputies fired upon an armed standoff subject in Fair Oaks.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacramento Bee, 23 Mar. 2024
The law enforcement standoff began shortly after 1:30 p.m., according to police.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Bloomberg There's been a standoff over office buildings, but that will probably change this year as investors try to pick up distressed real estate at low prices.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024
USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
In the video, Wade stands off to the side of the Vanity Fair Oscar Party carpet to take photos of Union from the side.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
At spring practice, Williams can frequently be seen standing off to the side while other defensive tackles go through drills.
—Kortay Vincent, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024
The Housewives, standing off to the side, weren’t safe: Merce was out of the purse — and speckled onto their dresses, their faces, their hair.
—Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024
Hubert Point-Du Jour’s Ralph Abernathy stands off to the side and then complains that Martin treats him like an afterthought.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2024
According to Truman, Circus Girl Resting was created by an artist who stood off from the portrait and threw paint at it.
—Diane Scharper, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024
Throughout the clip, Kim never drops the weight as her trainer stands off to the side.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 5 Jan. 2024
Alexis stood off to the side, tears streaming down his face, watching his brother leave the field in a wheelchair.
—Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2023
Noun
One fatal standoff is between two women of color who appear to be roughly the same age.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
An elderly woman and two children remained inside the house during the standoff, police said.
—Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
The standoff reflects how a decades-long battle over the character and future of the Jewish state has become graver since Oct. 7.
—Johnatan Reiss, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Escalatory cycles in regional standoffs are hard to contain when hawks on both sides urge their leaders to undertake more dramatic retaliation—as when some Republican members of Congress called the Biden administration to seek reprisals against Iran after the Kataib Hezbollah incident.
—Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
The escalating situation prompted Tucson police to seek assistance from the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety to resolve the standoff.
—The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
The Gilmore incident comes eight days after deputies fired upon an armed standoff subject in Fair Oaks.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacramento Bee, 23 Mar. 2024
The law enforcement standoff began shortly after 1:30 p.m., according to police.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Bloomberg There's been a standoff over office buildings, but that will probably change this year as investors try to pick up distressed real estate at low prices.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Sharing your beliefs can stir the pot when the moon stands off with Mercury.
—USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
In the video, Wade stands off to the side of the Vanity Fair Oscar Party carpet to take photos of Union from the side.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
At spring practice, Williams can frequently be seen standing off to the side while other defensive tackles go through drills.
—Kortay Vincent, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024
The Housewives, standing off to the side, weren’t safe: Merce was out of the purse — and speckled onto their dresses, their faces, their hair.
—Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024
Hubert Point-Du Jour’s Ralph Abernathy stands off to the side and then complains that Martin treats him like an afterthought.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2024
According to Truman, Circus Girl Resting was created by an artist who stood off from the portrait and threw paint at it.
—Diane Scharper, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024
Throughout the clip, Kim never drops the weight as her trainer stands off to the side.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 5 Jan. 2024
Alexis stood off to the side, tears streaming down his face, watching his brother leave the field in a wheelchair.
—Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'standoff.' 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
Noun
circa 1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1591, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2
Phrases Containing standoff
Articles Related to standoff
Dictionary Entries Near standoff
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standoff. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
standoff
noun
stand·off
ˈstan-ˌdȯf
: a contest or game in which there is no winner : draw
More from Merriam-Webster on standoff
Nglish: Translation of standoff for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of standoff for Arabic Speakers
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