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

South Florida Sun Sentinel columnist Chris Perkins is joined by Dave Hyde and David Furones to go head-to-head over the ups and downs of the Miami Dolphins in their live show, now available as a free podcast. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026

Bennett, last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy winner as NHL playoff MVP, has gone head-to-head with McDavid in two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, the Florida Panthers coming out on top both times. —Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Amazon and Walmart compete head-to-head for shoppers’ dollars. —Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026

That meant Schumacher was competing head-to-head with Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, who has dominated the sport and keeps setting new Olympic records. —ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026

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