pair off

verb

Definition of pair offnext
as in to couple

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 pair off Limon’s brother told the Times that by Sunday, investigators had traced the pair off campus. — Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026 Eventually, Annie and Link pair off and things get hot and heavy in the Jungle Room. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026 Wrestlers pair off, practicing moves at light speed. — Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 Stay in the neutrals family by topping this grey wool pair off with a simple white button-down and lightweight black jacket. — Christina Holevas, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pair off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pair off
  1. couple
  2. mate
Verb
  • Eliminating the burn zone WJGL technology is a precision manufacturing method that couples a high-power laser inside a microscopic, 50-micrometer stream of high-pressure water surrounded by protective shielding gas.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The authors of the Nature Energy paper found a way around that obstacle by coupling two ultra-thin nickel-titanium films.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of couple
Verb
  • Male spiders can mate over 100 times during the season with over 100 female tarantulas, per Oklahoma State University.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Reproduction and development Black rat snakes can breed at any time during their annual active season and mate with more than one partner.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mate

Browse Nearby Words

pairing off
pair off
pairs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pair off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pair%20off. 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