head-to-head

adverb

ˈhed-tə-ˈhed How to pronounce head-to-head (audio)
Definition of head-to-headnext
as in toe-to-toe
in direct confrontation or competition it's fitting that the two best teams during the regular season will go head-to-head for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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-to-head Racers will go head-to-head two teams at a time, with the top two fastest teams competing in the final race. — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo go head-to-head in a killer duet. — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026 The first is head-to-head, which wouldn’t apply here since Clemson did not play SMU nor Wake Forest this season. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026 Just three years later, Blackwell launched the Sacramento Burger Battle, where 15 local restaurants went head-to-head to showcase their best burgers. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The last time two teams went head-to-head while wearing colored jerseys came in Week 15 of the 2025 season, when the Falcons wore black and the Buccaneers donned their Creamsicle uniforms. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 This week, the Dodgers will go head-to-head against the Brewers, and the Guardians will face the Rays in the best-of-seven Championship series. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026 Enter Crossplay, The New York Times’s first head-to-head multiplayer game. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Jaguar once went head-to-head with competitors like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, making splashy appearances in James Bond films. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-to-head
  1. face-to-face
  2. head-on
Adverb
  • Younger generations have grown up with technology in a way that’s left them with fewer opportunities to practice face-to-face interactions.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In this vein, moving away from a brand-centric model and embracing a more client-facing approach, getting to know visitors face-to-face remains the ultimate personalization tool.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of face-to-face
Adverb
  • Addressing this head-on, in the moment, could come across as combative.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Chris and Shane are both capable of facing this challenge head-on and finding a way to achieve the results that our fans deserve, which is winning games, getting to the postseason and ultimately winning championships.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of head-on

Browse Nearby Words

heads-ups
head-to-head
headwaiter
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Cite this Entry

“Head-to-head.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-to-head. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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