behead

verb

be·​head bi-ˈhed How to pronounce behead (audio)
bē-
beheaded; beheading; beheads

transitive verb

: to cut off the head of : decapitate

Examples of behead in a Sentence

Louis XVI was beheaded in 1793. Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded for plotting against Queen Elizabeth.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Back at Lallybroch, Claire and Jamie maneuver the shocked reactions of his family as Claire calmly shares her intel on how this upcoming revolution will result in the rich being persecuted and the king and queen being beheaded. Lincee Ray, EW.com, 23 Nov. 2024 Everyone knows that Lady Jane Grey — brilliant, Protestant, and a legitimate claimant to the throne as a niece of Henry VIII — was queen of England for nine entire days, deposed to make way for Henry’s eldest surviving child Mary Tudor, and subsequently beheaded for treason. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024 Earlier this year, a man in Pennsylvania beheaded his federal-employee father and called on others to kill federal employees. Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024 An identical statue has been seen in Detroit, Nevada and Portland, Oregon, where it was beheaded soon after it was erected. Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 The twist of the knife that unleashes Sienna's retributive fury is a revelation that the gruesome pair killed, beheaded, and seemingly stripped the flesh from Jonathan's skull. Want more movie news? EW.com, 17 Oct. 2024 The same month, Kennedy’s daughter Kick recounted a story about her father beheading a dead whale and strapping it to the top of his minivan for a five-hour drive. Emma Specter, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2024 Anastasiou allegedly threatened to assassinate, kidnap, torture, hang, behead and execute the justices, and encouraged other people to join him in committing acts of violence, the Justice Department said. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2024 Brandy’s Cinderella is back and nearly beheaded in Descendants: The Rise of Red trailer There's plenty of new magic, too, as Billie scrambles an egg and makes someone invisible. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of behead was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near behead

Cite this Entry

“Behead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behead. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

behead

verb
be·​head bi-ˈhed How to pronounce behead (audio)
: to cut off the head of

More from Merriam-Webster on behead

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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