matchups

noun

plural of matchup
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a boxing matchup that promises to be a sportswriter's dream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of matchups The quarter is filled with some odd matchups for very good spots. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Shaw gives Counsell another option off the bench, able to deploy him across the infield or in the outfield and play matchups late in games. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 The team’s national TV slate is heavy with Atlantic Division matchups. — Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 The Panthers’ first-team defense fared a little better against Houston’s first-team offense on the other field — the matchups were occurring simultaneously. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 This season Miles and the Lynx have swept the Wings in their four regular season matchups. — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 What began in 2019 as a competition for just four teams now features 36 clubs and 54 matchups in Phase One alone. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 Some of the matchups were unveiled at Fanatics Fest NYC in July. — Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 24 Aug. 2026 Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, himself a two-time All-Pro, presented Jefferson plenty of challenges in their one-on-one matchups. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matchups
  1. tournaments
  2. games
  3. events
  4. competitions
  5. matches
Noun
  • For 16 years, Jamie Cox and her husband have been taking their four kids to soccer practice, games and tournaments throughout Johnson County.
    — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In one of her first tournaments with the national team, heavily favored France was upset.
    — Eden Laase, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of tournaments
Noun
  • The Orioles scored only one run over their previous three games against Boston, but Joey Cantillo (9-9) did plenty to help them out of their slump, allowing 3 hits and 5 walks and hitting 2 batters in 2 1/3 innings.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
  • United ended their four-season sleeve sponsorship with DXC Technology in August, with the team instead wearing the standard Premier League sleeve patches, as required by league regulations, for the opening games.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of games
Noun
  • Then a bad pit stop set off a sequence of events that cost him dearly.
    — Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The day’s events are measured in minutes, a ticking clock; the grief in years, a beating heart.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of events
Noun
  • The Wales international made 53 appearances in all competitions last season and has started both of Forest’s opening two Premier League games this term.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Su, remarkably skilled at intensifying the flavors of a single fruit or vegetable in a drink of many elements, had a knack for winning national cocktail competitions.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of competitions
Noun
  • Myers spoke vaguely about winning and losing, while interspersing clips of Ultimate Fighting Championship interviews with fighters after matches.
    — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Balogun found his best form at Monaco during the last campaign, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, including a run of 10 goals in 10 matches.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of matches

Browse Nearby Words

matchup
matchups
mate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Matchups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matchups. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of loath

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All