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Synonyms

match-up

American  
[mach-uhp] / ˈmætʃˌʌp /
Or matchup

noun

  1. a pairing or combining; linkage.

    a match-up of federal funds with state aid.

  2. a direct contest or confrontation, as between two athletes or political candidates.

  3. an investigation of similarities and differences; comparison.

    a match-up of property taxes in two counties.

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.

It remains a fascinating match-up between two veterans with no clear favourite.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

India may well pick an XI with five left-handers in their top eight on Thursday - a match-up that should suit them against England.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Inoue said after the fight that his match-up with Nakatani was yet to be confirmed but that he would "love to make a fight happen that would get everyone in Japan excited".

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

It is, according to bookmakers, the unlikeliest Super Bowl match-up of modern times.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

Zverev has proved an awkward match-up for Alcaraz, with the pair evenly splitting their 12 previous meetings.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

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.