match-up
Americannoun
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a pairing or combining; linkage.
a match-up of federal funds with state aid.
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a direct contest or confrontation, as between two athletes or political candidates.
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an investigation of similarities and differences; comparison.
a match-up of property taxes in two counties.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of match-up
First recorded in 1960–65; noun use of verb phrase match up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The players could be seen exchanging words throughout their match-up and, at one point during the second quarter, Harrison swatted at the ball being held by Reese after play had already been stopped.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
The Knicks-Spurs series is up 116% over the first four games of last year’s match-up between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
"I haven't played either this year, so it will be a good match-up to see where I am," she added.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026
It is, according to bookmakers, the unlikeliest Super Bowl match-up of modern times.
From Barron's ● Feb. 8, 2026
The Patriots offence matching up against that forceful Texans defence feels like the match-up to keep an eye on.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2026
Those kinds of match-ups were rare in the last two Olympic tournaments since NHL players didn’t take part, sidelined by a dispute over insurance, travel costs and scheduling issues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2026
Again, the way the fixtures have fallen means only two games are direct match-ups between play-off hopefuls - Ajax against Olympiacos and Marseille's trip to Club Brugge.
From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026
It will be the first opportunity to purchase single-match tickets based on the exact match-ups of each game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 2025
Spaniard Alcaraz had the edge over Sinner over the course of the season, winning four of their six match-ups, which all decided top-level tournaments, and pipping his rival to the year-end world number one spot.
From Barron's ● Nov. 16, 2025
In either case, you will have the next week to confirm or rearrange these match-ups and choose your team names, though you can do either immediately if you prefer.
From The Alembic Plot A Terran Empire novel by Wilson, Ann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
