toe to toe
1 of 2phrase
: facing one another
toe-to-toe
2 of 2adjective or adverb
: slugging it out at or as if at close range
a toe-to-toe confrontation over the new policy
Examples of toe to toe in a Sentence
Adjective or adverb
mom-and-pop grocery stores are usually wildly outmatched when they go toe-to-toe with large chain stores
Recent Examples on the Web
Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Lendeborg was familiar with Dusty May – May’s old school, Florida Atlantic, went toe-to-toe with UAB in Lendeborg’s first season there – which sealed the deal for Michigan over both Kentucky and Auburn.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
First, the night at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, when Fonseca went toe-to-toe with Sinner in a bashfest to end all bashfests in the desert.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
But even casual high school boys basketball fans in the western suburbs recognize the Wolves as a force to be reckoned with by going toe-to-toe against top programs in the state under the direction of Velasquez, who is stepping down for some very good personal reasons.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toe to toe
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Adjective or adverb
Texas fell to the Purdue Boilermakers on a last-second tip just before the buzzer, after going toe-to-toe with them all game.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Lendeborg was familiar with Dusty May – May’s old school, Florida Atlantic, went toe-to-toe with UAB in Lendeborg’s first season there – which sealed the deal for Michigan over both Kentucky and Auburn.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
First, the night at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, when Fonseca went toe-to-toe with Sinner in a bashfest to end all bashfests in the desert.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
But even casual high school boys basketball fans in the western suburbs recognize the Wolves as a force to be reckoned with by going toe-to-toe against top programs in the state under the direction of Velasquez, who is stepping down for some very good personal reasons.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toe to toe
Cite this Entry
“Toe to toe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toe%20to%20toe. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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