Word
faceoff
Phoneticsface·off
Countable noun
Definition
n. a direct competition or clash between two people, teams, or ideas. You use it when both sides meet to see who wins.
n. a direct confrontation or contest between two opposing parties, teams, or ideas. Often refers to the start of play in ice hockey, where two players compete for the puck after it is dropped.
Examples
“The game starts with a quick faceoff at center ice.”
“The debate turned into a tense faceoff between the two candidates over healthcare costs.”
“After months of polite negotiation, the merger talks collapsed into a public faceoff, with both boards issuing rival statements to win shareholder support.”
Examples
simple
“The game starts with a quick faceoff at center ice.”
contextual
“The debate turned into a tense faceoff between the two candidates over healthcare costs.”
complex
“After months of polite negotiation, the merger talks collapsed into a public faceoff, with both boards issuing rival statements to win shareholder support.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “faceoff” in context.
Verb
01. faceoff begins
“The faceoff begins at centre ice as the crowd falls silent.”
noun + verb
02. faceoff looms
“A major faceoff looms between the president and Congress.”
noun + verb
03. lose faceoff
“They lost the faceoff and conceded a goal within seconds.”
verb + noun
04. prepare for faceoff
“Both players crouched low to prepare for the faceoff.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
05. final faceoff
“The two teams met in a final faceoff for the championship.”
adj + noun
06. heated faceoff
“The rivalry boiled over into a heated faceoff after the match.”
adj + noun
07. political faceoff
“The budget vote sparked a bitter political faceoff in parliament.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. faceoff circle
“The players lined up around the faceoff circle to start play.”
noun + noun
09. faceoff spot
“The referee dropped the puck at the faceoff spot.”
noun + noun
10. a tense political faceoff
“The summit turned into a tense political faceoff over trade.”
11. head into a final faceoff
“The two rivals head into a final faceoff on Sunday.”
12. lose a crucial faceoff
“They lost a crucial faceoff in the final minute of the game.”
Usage
Spelled as one word or hyphenated as a noun ('faceoff', 'face-off'); the verb is two words ('face off').
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/faceoff