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
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
Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The legal action intensifies a standoff between the administration and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who has resisted efforts to enforce the policy.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
His interest became public in January at the height of an angry stand off over rate decisions between the utility industry and Marissa Gillett, Lamont’s appointee to chair the regulatory authority.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
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Noun
Meanwhile, Trump escalated his standoff with China, raising duties on Chinese imports to 145% — a move that prompted Beijing to retaliate by raising its levies on U.S. goods to 125%.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The legal action intensifies a standoff between the administration and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who has resisted efforts to enforce the policy.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
Kratos and his son Atreus traverse the nine realms, dig up old traumas, and stand off against a whole bestiary’s worth of gargantuan, flesh-eating monsters.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
His interest became public in January at the height of an angry stand off over rate decisions between the utility industry and Marissa Gillett, Lamont’s appointee to chair the regulatory authority.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standoff. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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