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
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024
Another 300 people voluntarily left throughout the hourslong standoff, some filing out of the encampment with their hands over their heads in a show of peaceful surrender, according to the university.
—Ryan Pearson, Fortune, 3 May 2024
The standoff between student protesters and college administrators over tents mirrors a national conflict that is growing increasingly confrontational.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
Not long after entering the encampment in Dickson Plaza, police appeared to withdraw from the area and are now engaged in another standoff with the protesters.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 2 May 2024
Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge has applauded a new music licensing deal with TikTok which ends a recent months-long standoff over royalties to be paid out to the social media platform.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2024
In the wee hours of Thursday — 2:35 a.m, ET, to be precise — Universal Music Group and TikTok announced the settlement of their three-month standoff over royalties, AI policies and other issues.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 2 May 2024
The feud has been one of the biggest talking points in the music business for the better part of this year, with artists and songwriters caught in the middle of the corporate standoff and looking for alternate ways to promote and market their music beyond the parameters of TikTok.
—Dan Rys, Billboard, 2 May 2024
After an armed standoff that lasted more than 12 hours, she was eventually taken into custody, though police said Fernandez continued to resist until she was handcuffed.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
Suhasini Raj, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
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
Noun
The fatal shooting of four law enforcement officers, including a U.S. Marshal, during a standoff in an east Charlotte neighborhood on Monday marked the first time in 17 years that an officer had been killed in the line of duty in Mecklenburg County.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024
Another 300 people voluntarily left throughout the hourslong standoff, some filing out of the encampment with their hands over their heads in a show of peaceful surrender, according to the university.
—Ryan Pearson, Fortune, 3 May 2024
The standoff between student protesters and college administrators over tents mirrors a national conflict that is growing increasingly confrontational.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
Not long after entering the encampment in Dickson Plaza, police appeared to withdraw from the area and are now engaged in another standoff with the protesters.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 2 May 2024
Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge has applauded a new music licensing deal with TikTok which ends a recent months-long standoff over royalties to be paid out to the social media platform.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2024
In the wee hours of Thursday — 2:35 a.m, ET, to be precise — Universal Music Group and TikTok announced the settlement of their three-month standoff over royalties, AI policies and other issues.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 2 May 2024
The feud has been one of the biggest talking points in the music business for the better part of this year, with artists and songwriters caught in the middle of the corporate standoff and looking for alternate ways to promote and market their music beyond the parameters of TikTok.
—Dan Rys, Billboard, 2 May 2024
After an armed standoff that lasted more than 12 hours, she was eventually taken into custody, though police said Fernandez continued to resist until she was handcuffed.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
Verb
Whereas the United States and China are engaged in a new kind of cold war over economic dominance, India and China have had troops standing off at their border since 1962.
—Suhasini Raj, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
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
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standoff. Accessed 9 May. 2024.
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