head and shoulders

adverb

: beyond comparison : by far

head and shoulders above the competition

Synonyms of head and shoulders

• definitely
• far and away
• by a long shot
• undoubtedly
• by all odds
• by far

Examples of head and shoulders in a Sentence

a performance that was head and shoulders above all the others in the talent competition

Recent Examples on the Web

Other passengers told news media that Karović had his seatbelt on the entire time, helping his body stay inside the plane, but his head and shoulders were outside. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 14 July 2026

But the daily chart is now carving an inverse head and shoulders, a classic bottom pattern around the $100 zone. — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 8 July 2026

Preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center shows Illinois leading the rankings across the country, head and shoulders above the traditional Tornado Alley areas of Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026

While Knicks fans will remember the 2025-26 NBA season forever, there are a handful of moments that stand head and shoulders above the rest. — Mark Prussin, CBS News, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for head and shoulders

• officeholders
• beholders
• bondholders
• cardholders
• freeholders
• householders
• landholders
• leaseholders
• placeholders
• shareholders
• slaveholders
• smallholders