Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

head up

verb

Definition of head up

transitive verb

1 : to close (as a barrel) at the head or with a head
2 : head vt 4

intransitive verb

1 : head entry 3 vi 3a
2 : to come to an apex : find a head a bureaucracy that headed up in the king— W. P. Webb

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Learn More about head up

Statistics for head up

Look-up Popularity

Comments on head up

What made you want to look up head up? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

cogent

Listen to the pronounciation of cogent

appealing forcibly to the mind or reason

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Farm Idioms Quiz

  • cow coming home
  • What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games