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: 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
Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
The move came after another night of standoffs between law enforcement and demonstrators at the facility, as protesters could be seen in photographs and videos fighting over barricades as police used riot shields to push them back.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Comparison can be a slippery slope as the moon stands off with Chiron.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for standoff
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Noun
Tensions escalated when Tigray held regional elections in defiance of thata federal delay, leading to a political standoff that erupted into a civil war in November 2020.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
The move came after another night of standoffs between law enforcement and demonstrators at the facility, as protesters could be seen in photographs and videos fighting over barricades as police used riot shields to push them back.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Verb
As players sank into their chairs and coaches stood off to the side with their arms across their chests, Butera and president of baseball operations Paul Toboni talked through their priorities and their burgeoning identity.
—Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Comparison can be a slippery slope as the moon stands off with Chiron.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Apr. 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 1 Jun. 2026.
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