head-to-head

adverb or adjective

: in a direct confrontation or encounter usually between individuals

Examples of head-to-head in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What happens when a sportswriter picks some of the toughest games of the week and goes head-to-head against a sharp and a football expert with a Harvard education? Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023 Inspired by the story of America’s most infamous outlaw, Season 2 will see Billy battle head-to-head with his old friend Jesse Evans and the corrupt powers of the Santa Fe Ring. Mckinley Franklin, Variety, 13 Sep. 2023 The victorious guest chef then moves on to cook against celebrity chef Flay, in a head-to-head challenge in which the Food Network star is tasked with preparing a signature dish chosen by the competing guest chef. Kturnqui, oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2023 At the same point in 2007, similar head-to-head polls would have predicted Mitt Romney as our next president, and in 2011, would have predicted Rudy Giuliani as our next president. ABC News, 10 Sep. 2023 But this year’s matchup also featured a bitter head-to-head clash of a political kind that started even before kickoff occurred. Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2023 Everett and Mansfield stand pat after losing at Xaverian and Catholic Memorial, and Lincoln-Sudbury hops Methuen after a head-to-head win. Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023 The two women have met five times, with Gauff holding a slight 3-2 edge in head-to-head matchups. Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023 According to court documents viewed by Fox News Digital, officers entered the home through the side garage door and found the married couple lying head-to-head face down on the living room floor covered in blood. Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'head-to-head.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of head-to-head was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near head-to-head

Cite this Entry

“Head-to-head.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head-to-head. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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