noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of rematch
Explanation
After a tie or an unsatisfactory result in a game or competition, people might call for a rematch to play again and settle the score. A rematch is a second game or competition between opponents who competed against each other before. Rematches are common in sports and in competitive games like chess, especially when the first outcome was close or controversial. For example, if a chess game ends in a draw — in which neither player wins — the players might agree to a rematch to determine a winner. Rematches add excitement and anticipation as competitors get another chance to prove themselves against a challenging opponent.
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 little guy had booked a hotel, flown in from Texas and was on the edge of his very expensive seat to see the rematch between heavyweight champion Joe Louis and challenger Max Schmeling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
That fight was deemed a no contest because of repeated eye pokes from Gane which left Aspinall unable to continue, and he called for a rematch in October.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
The Trojans wasted no time jumping on the Bobcats in the rematch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
Kickboxing legend Verhoeven, 37, described it as an "early stoppage" and called for a rematch but said it was up to Usyk.
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
“I know you’re looking for me. You want t’see me so badly that you’ve been wandering through Alta’s bars for over an hour. What do you want? A rematch or something?”
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
As he has done in all previous rematches – against Fury and Joshua – Usyk used the data he had downloaded from the first encounter to his advantage.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2025
The league phase featured rematches of four of the last five Champions League finals with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice saying: "Usually, you find these games in the quarter-finals or semi-finals."
From BBC ● May 31, 2025
That Rams-Lions game was a season opener, so there could be three Week 1 rematches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 5, 2025
There are rematches and also chances to avenge defeats from last season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024
As it turns out, the data show that the 7-7 wrestlers win only 40 percent of the rematches.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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.
