square off

verb

squared off; squaring off; squares off
Synonyms of square offnext

intransitive verb

1
: to take a fighting stance : prepare to fight
also : to fight or argue
squared off in a debate
2
: to compete in a contest
The two teams squared off for the championship.

transitive verb

: to make square : to give (something) straight edges, flat surfaces, or sharp, even corners

Examples of square off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
He will not be activated in time for Sunday night’s game and will instead be watching his current and former team square off from the sideline. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 The league's two best defensive teams are about to square off for a championship in a best-of-seven series that could be low-scoring. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 In a tongue-in-cheek short film, Turner and his pooch are shown squaring off over a game of chess. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 The Camaro squared off with the Mustang, and if Ford can prove out a business case that the man in charge of GM’s performance division can see and then sell to the board, the Camaro’s future might already be locked, again. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for square off

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of square off was in 1838

Rhymes for square off

See All Rhymes for square off

Browse Nearby Words

square notation
square off
square of opposition
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Square off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square%20off. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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