1
: a method of beginning play (as in hockey or lacrosse) in which two opponents face each other and attempt to gain control of a puck or ball dropped or placed between them
2
faced off; facing off; faces off
: to be in or come into opposition or competition
politicians facing off against each other in a televised debate
Synonyms
Examples of face-off in a Sentence
Noun
the annual fall face-off between these traditional rivals is a big event for both football-mad colleges
Verb
eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Dec. 2024
Pittsburgh won a Week 11 face-off with the Ravens by a score of 18-16.
—Valentina Martinez, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
The sequel, which has the Ghostbusters facing off with the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian and his profoundly negative vibes, ends in a joyous celebration that brings the Big Apple together while an animated Statue of Liberty stomps to the rescue.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for face-off 
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Noun
Though Swift has not attended any of Travis Kelce's away games this NFL season, she has been spotted at nearly every single home game, with the exception of their face-off against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 8.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Dec. 2024
Pittsburgh won a Week 11 face-off with the Ravens by a score of 18-16.
—Valentina Martinez, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
Duality is present when Mercury faces off with Jupiter.
—USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
The sequel, which has the Ghostbusters facing off with the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian and his profoundly negative vibes, ends in a joyous celebration that brings the Big Apple together while an animated Statue of Liberty stomps to the rescue.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for face-off
Dictionary Entries Near face-off
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/face-off. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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