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
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
Construction workers began tearing down walls in the long-shuttered venue that were still scarred by bullet holes from the June 12, 2016, attack, when a gunman opened fire during a Latin night celebration, killing dozens and wounding 53 other people before police killed him following a standoff.
—Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Art De Roché, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
As players started to trickle out of the clubhouse with bats and gloves in for the Cubs’ first full-squad workout yesterday, Chairman Tom Ricketts stood off to the side, taking in the scene.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for standoff
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Noun
What was intended to be a productive closed-door meeting with top Department of Justice leaders Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche turned into a standoff over whether Bondi would commit to appearing for an April 14 deposition subpoenaed by the House oversight committee.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
Construction workers began tearing down walls in the long-shuttered venue that were still scarred by bullet holes from the June 12, 2016, attack, when a gunman opened fire during a Latin night celebration, killing dozens and wounding 53 other people before police killed him following a standoff.
—Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
Already ahead on the scoreboard from the ninth minute, Arsenal could stand off and allow their opponents to work themselves into a frenzy.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
As players started to trickle out of the clubhouse with bats and gloves in for the Cubs’ first full-squad workout yesterday, Chairman Tom Ricketts stood off to the side, taking in the scene.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standoff. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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