head-on

1 of 2

adverb

ˈhed-ˈȯn 

-ˈän

1

: with the head or front making the initial contact

the cars collided head-on

2

: in direct opposition, confrontation, or contradiction

met the problem head-on

head-on

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having the front facing in the direction of initial contact or line of sight

a head-on collision

2

: very direct : frontal sense 2b

a head-on confrontation

Synonyms of head-on

Adverb

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

Examples of head-on in a Sentence

Adverb

the underdog team met its more talented opponent head-on and won the hockey game through sheer grit

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

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

Rather than fighting strict local regulations head-on, companies like Waymo, Zoox, and Aurora are prioritizing states with explicit legislative preemption that prevents individual cities from banning the technology. — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Finally, there is the case of Tara Davis-Woodhall, the reigning Olympic and world champion long jumper who suffered a concussion after getting hit head-on while driving in a parking lot on her way to training last month. — ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026

Gizelle might’ve been spared the shade at the drag show, but Lisa Wu gets it head-on as Nene goes on about how inconsequential both the slip-up and Lisa’s feelings about it are. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for head-on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

head-on

adjective

-ˈȯn, 

-ˈän

: having the head or front facing forward : front to front

a head-on collision