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
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
Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
His decision to back away from the White House UFC face-off coincided with the Department of Justice’s latest release of files showcasing images, documents and flight logs tied to Epstein and his wealthy entourage.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2025
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
In the film, Marty faces off against Koto Endo, who is played by real-life table tennis champion Koto Kawaguchi.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
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Noun
The film keeps pace through toe-curlingly tense table tennis face-offs, high-stakes hustles, and a jaw-dropping scene involving a bathtub that honestly puts Saltburn to shame.
—Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
His decision to back away from the White House UFC face-off coincided with the Department of Justice’s latest release of files showcasing images, documents and flight logs tied to Epstein and his wealthy entourage.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
The sequel would've seen T'Challa face off against Namor while simultaneously trying to complete an important ritual with his son.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
In the film, Marty faces off against Koto Endo, who is played by real-life table tennis champion Koto Kawaguchi.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/face-off. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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