square off

verb

squared off; squaring off; squares off

intransitive verb

: to take a fighting stance : prepare to fight
also : fight

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.
And two of those stars — Green Bay’s Jordan Love and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts — will square off Sunday in an NFC wild card game. Rob Reischel, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 The coaches squared off twice when Sarkisian was at Washington and Kwiatkowski was Boise State’s defensive coordinator and once in the Pac-12 when Sarkisian was at USC and Kwiatkowski was at Washington. Sam Khan Jr., The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 Historic programs Penn State and Notre Dame will square off Thursday night in the Orange Bowl with a berth in the national championship on the line. NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025 What really happened: Held at WBBM-TV studios, 630 N. McClurg Court, on Sept. 26, 1960, Nixon and Kennedy squared off in the first presidential debate shown on TV. Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for square off 

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of square off was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near square off

Cite this Entry

“Square off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square%20off. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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