showdown

noun

show·​down ˈshō-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce showdown (audio)
1
: the placing of poker hands faceup on the table to determine the winner of a pot
2
: a decisive confrontation or contest

Examples of showdown in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The annual showdown at Madison Square Garden has been a fixture of the spring sports scene since 1980, when the conference was dominated by the likes of Syracuse, Georgetown, Villanova and St. John’s. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 June 2024 After a hiatus of three election cycles because the frontrunners had little incentive to face off against their challengers, debates returned in 1976 in the showdown between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Heather Hendershot / Made By History, TIME, 27 June 2024 Smells like 2020 After an explosive first debate in 2020, no one knows how the showdown between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will shake out on Thursday. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 27 June 2024 With polls tightening but still showing Trump with a narrow lead nationally and in most battleground states, the noisy showdown between two bitter rivals was contrasted with the quiet setting — in a CNN studio in Atlanta, with no audience for the first time in recent debate history. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for showdown 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'showdown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of showdown was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near showdown

Cite this Entry

“Showdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showdown. Accessed 3 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

showdown

noun
show·​down -ˌdau̇n How to pronounce showdown (audio)
: the test of strength that finally settles a dispute
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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