head 1 of 3

noun

ˈhed How to pronounce head (audio)
Definition of headnext
1
as in skull
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth I hit my head as I went through the low doorway

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2
as in helm
the place of leadership or command every year a different parent is placed at the head of the troop's cookie drive

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3
as in foam
a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid the head on the ice cream soda rose a good two inches above the rim of the glass

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4
as in person
a member of the human race the tour guide counted heads, and everyone was present

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5
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action when the disagreement between the two departments came to a head, the CEO called both managers in for a closed-door meeting

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6
as in headwater
the beginning part of a stream Lake Itasca in Minnesota is the head of the Mississippi River

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7
as in top
the highest part or point stood at the head of the stairs and looked down

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8
as in mind
the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities you're out of your head if you think you can swim across that river

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9
as in brain
the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons challenged us to put our heads together and find a solution to the skyrocketing costs of the company's health insurance plans

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10
as in boss
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do as head of the planning committee, he had the responsibility of appointing someone to look into the parking situation

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11
as in dam
a bank of earth constructed to control water built a head to create a millpond

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12
as in bathroom
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste give me a chance to visit the head, and I'll be all set to go

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13
as in user
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally a shop near campus where all the heads used to get their paraphernalia

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14
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something she's a total tech head who adores home electronics and computers

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15
as in heading
a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize rechecked to make sure that all the heads were in boldface

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16
as in talent
a special and usually inborn ability I have no head for numbers

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head

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to turn
to go on a specified course or in a certain direction she'll be heading out east in the fall to attend college

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2
as in to lead
to be at the front of heading the procession at the dog show was a miniature poodle, followed by dogs seemingly of every breed

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3
as in to handle
to be in charge of who headed the CIA when Ronald Reagan was president?

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4
as in to go
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the road to riches headed north, thought many, as off they went to Alaska to try their luck at panning gold

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5
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal after a long day at the beach, we headed the car toward home

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6
as in to command
to serve as leader of Robert La Salle headed the expedition that claimed Louisiana for the French king

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7
as in to decapitate
to cut off the head of got a job at the slaughterhouse heading cattle

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head

3 of 3

adjective

as in chief
highest in rank or authority as head editor at the TV station for 17 years, he has seen many news anchors come and go

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of head
Noun
With the Chiefs having the game in hand in the fourth quarter, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy approached head coach Andy Reid with a suggestion. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 Before striking out on adventure, head to Snake River Roasting Company for a small-batch specialty coffee and hearty breakfast burrito. — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Dumas has tapped Paula Aisemberg, former director of La Maison Rouge in Paris, to head the nonprofit organization. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026 Erling Haaland headed City level in the second half, but Jackson got his second and the winner with a first-time finish that squirmed under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Carlson would serve alongside her as the other co-head coach, while Abernethy would hold the dual roles of diving coach and director of operations. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 But his path to becoming the head coach of the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Iowa last month was also sparked by his relationship with Iowa general manager Matt Hendricks, an old summer skating partner during their playing days. — Joe Smith, New York Times, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for head
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head
  1. skull
  2. helm
  3. foam
  4. person
  5. crisis
  6. headwater
  7. top
  8. mind
Noun
  • An autopsy showed Hedgepeth suffered extensive skull fractures and cuts to her face and head, and she was also badly beaten on her arms and legs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Newton said local officials are working to get the skull to the Japanese Consulate to have the remains returned to Japan.
    — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of skull
Noun
  • Kasdan, who directed the 2017 film and its 2019 sequel, returns to helm Open World from a script he co-wrote with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026
  • All are under the helm of billionaire David Ellison and his new co-CEO Ynon Kreiz.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of helm
Noun
  • The DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress ultimately reigns supreme after years of testing, thanks to its combination of body-contouring foam layers, supportive springs, and a plush Euro top cover.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Products like inflatable dams, flood barriers that attach to doors more like dog gates or even good ol’ fashioned waterproofing tapes and foams are generally fine to install.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of foam
Noun
  • The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a continuing criminal investigation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • At current growth rates, output per person doubles in twenty years in the US and takes forty-three years in the EU.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of person
Noun
  • The ever-rising risk premium demanded by investors for holding those bonds shows that traders are still unconvinced that the French government has a plan to resolve its budget crisis.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But concrete reef structures powered by artificial intelligence could help to combat the environmental crisis.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of crisis
Noun
  • Congress rolled back protections for the Boundary Waters, opening the door to mining in its headwaters.
    — Mary Beth Laughton, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
  • According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.
    — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of headwater
Noun
  • In true dump cake style, add all ingredients to create a pumpkin filling and top with boxed yellow cake mix and butter to create a warm, satisfying dessert that’s perfect for holidays and weeknights.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike most eVTOLs, which use propellers, the Roadster utilized compressed air jets to leap over other cars and propel from the top of a ramp six or seven stories high during its product reveal earlier this month.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of top
Noun
  • These are songs that iterate and elevate minor party fouls into dramas of symphonic proportion, arrangements that articulate the heightened emotions churning inside anxious minds.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Several opinion polls show that rising costs of living are top of mind for voters ahead of the elections.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of mind

Phrases Containing head

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hazy
head
headache
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Cite this Entry

“Head.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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