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.
The Boston Red Sox square off against the Miami Marlins a game after Mickey Gasper hit a pair of home runs in a 7-3 victory over the Marlins. — Data Skrive, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The easy fix is to position it at coffee-table height, tilt it up, and let the auto-keystone correction square off the image. — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2026 Wahab and Hernandez will square off again in the November election to fill the next two-year term for the seat. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 The game will mark the first time the Broncos and Leathernecks have squared off. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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