showdown

American  

[shoh-doun] / ˈʃoʊˌdaʊn /

noun

1. the laying down of one's cards, face upward, in a card game, especially poker.

2. a conclusive settlement of an issue, difference, etc., in which all resources, power, or the like, are used; decisive confrontation.

   An international showdown was inevitable.

   Synonyms:

   clash, encounter, climax, crisis

---

showdown British  

/ ˈʃəʊˌdaʊn /

noun

1. informal an action that brings matters to a head or acts as a conclusion or point of decision

2. poker the exposing of the cards in the players' hands on the table at the end of the game

---

Etymology

Origin of showdown

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; show + down ¹

Example Sentences

Claude’s maker, the Silicon Valley company Anthropic, is in a showdown over ethics with the Pentagon.

From Los Angeles Times

Was there any doubt that this absurdly riveting bad blood showdown could do anything but take it to the brink, like it had in Vancouver 2010, or even Boston a year ago?

From The Wall Street Journal

The craziest part about Team USA’s’ heavyweight showdown against Canada on the final day of the Milan Cortina Games wasn’t that it ended with a U.S. victory.

From The Wall Street Journal

The much anticipated showdown between powerhouses Etiwanda and Sierra Canyon will happen on Tuesday night at Etiwanda in the Southern Section Open Division semifinals.

From Los Angeles Times

Their Colombo showdown at the ongoing T20 World Cup only went ahead after Pakistan called off a threatened boycott.

From Barron's

Related Words

• clash
• crisis