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
  • While some fans may criticize the pair for potentially torpedoing their own games by coupling up so early, Chen Moonves is not one of them.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
  • After Terry entered the villa earlier in the season as a bombshell, alongside Caleb McDaniel and Sol Mýa, she initially got coupled up with Gabriel Vasconcelos due to a fan vote.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Definition of couple
Verb
  • In addition to that, the company’s next car, the Tourbillon, will be its first to feature the company’s new hybrid powertrain, which mates a three-foot-long, naturally aspirated V-16 with a trio of electric motors.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 17 July 2026
  • Since female screwworm flies mate only once during their roughly month-long lifespan, those that breed with sterile males produce no viable offspring, causing the population to gradually die out.
    — Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 14 July 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 24 Jul. 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 itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
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
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All