pair off
phrasal verb
paired off; pairing off; pairs off
1
: to join together in a romantic relationship
He hated being single while his friends were pairing off and having kids.
2
: to join or to cause others to join to form a group of two
People paired off for the next dance.
She paired the students off.
Examples of pair off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But in this season, competitors will pair off in teams of two, a touch that is new to the holiday adaptation.
—
Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
As the rest of the ladies get foot massages for Julia, who apparently is coming forward with her kinks, Alexia and Stephanie pair off and go chat in the mud room.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
Twenty-one years later, Carrie ends her story very intentionally not paired off.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Initially, this set my teeth on edge—two characters with seemingly little interest in each other being paired off with the chaotic insistence of a child making her soft toys kiss.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pair off
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Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
As the rest of the ladies get foot massages for Julia, who apparently is coming forward with her kinks, Alexia and Stephanie pair off and go chat in the mud room.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
Twenty-one years later, Carrie ends her story very intentionally not paired off.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Initially, this set my teeth on edge—two characters with seemingly little interest in each other being paired off with the chaotic insistence of a child making her soft toys kiss.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pair off
Cite this Entry
“Pair off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pair%20off. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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