face off
/ˈfeɪsˌɑf/noun, verb
face off is a noun meaning “Alternative form of face-off” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). It is spelled F-A-C-E-O-F-F and has 2 syllables. The plural of face off is face-offs or face offs.
What does face off mean?
noun
- 1
Alternative form of face-off.
verb
- 1
To confront (each other).
noun
- 1
A confrontation or argument between two people or groups.
It's unclear which side will win the latest face-off between the President and Congress.
- 2
The start of play, when two players try to get control of the puck dropped by the referee.
- 3
The start of play, when two players attempt to get possession of a ball placed on the ground between them by the referee.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you pronounce face off?
- US /ˈfeɪsˌɑf/
Face off has 2 syllables (counted from the pronunciation).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Forms of face off
- face-offs plural
- faceoff
- face offs plural
- faces off present, singular, he/she/it
- facing off participle, present
- faced off participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Words people confuse with face off
Also written: faceoff (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Face off in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense confrontation or argument between two people or groups:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Spanish | contrapunto, careo, encaramiento |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does face off come from?
From face + off, or a deverbal from face off, c. 1889.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).