head-to-head

adverb or adjective

ˈhed-tə-ˈhed 

: in a direct confrontation or encounter usually between individuals

teams competing head-to-head for the championship

Synonyms of head-to-head

• toe-to-toe
• one-on-one
• face-to-face
• head-on

Examples of head-to-head in a Sentence

it's fitting that the two best teams during the regular season will go head-to-head for the championship

Recent Examples on the Web

If the Broncos win and first-place San Diego State beats the Lobos, then BSU — which holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rebels — will travel to Southern California next week for a rematch with the Aztecs in the championship game. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 Nov. 2025

This shift aligns with recent history between the two franchises, as the under has successfully hit in each of their last four head-to-head contests. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

If two or more teams are tied for the wild card in a conference, the tie among the teams will be broken following the same tiebreaker protocol, with the exception of the head-to-head record in group play. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Nov. 2025

The Hellfire gang is going head-to-head with the biggest, baddest villain of all time, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), in an epic three-part final season. —Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for head-to-head

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead