face-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈfās-ˌȯf 

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

: confrontation

face off

2 of 2

verb

faced off; facing off; faces off

intransitive verb

: to be in or come into opposition or competition

politicians facing off against each other in a televised debate

Synonyms of face-off

Noun

• rivalry
• battle
• duel
• competition
• confrontation
• struggle
• warfare
• contest
• conflict

Verb

• compete
• contend
• race

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

Noun

Landeskog, camped near the net, passed back to Nazem Kadri at the right face-off circle. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Apr. 2026

Concrète Waves feels less like an intergenerational face-off and more like a meeting of brilliant minds on the same terms. —Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026

Verb

Christina Signorelli, 29 and of Hammond, will face off against City of Hammond Chief of Staff Scott Miller for Hamm’s Council spot. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026

Others take a more menacing tone, like a jaguar facing off with a dog in a snowy backyard. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1948, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for face-off

• cerenkov
• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff

Kids Definition

face-off

1 of 2 noun

ˈfā-ˌsȯf

1

: a method of putting a puck in play in ice hockey by dropping it between two opposing players

2

: a meeting of opposing forces : confrontation

face off

2 of 2 verb

: to be in or come into opposition or competition

politicians facing off each other in a debate