helm

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈhelm 

1

a

: a lever or wheel controlling the rudder of a ship for steering

broadly : the entire apparatus for steering a ship

b

: position of the helm with respect to the amidships position

turn the helm hard alee

2

: a position of control : head

a new dean is at the helm of the medical school

helm

2 of 4

verb (1)

helmed; helming; helms

transitive verb

1

: to direct (a ship) with a lever or wheel that controls the rudder : to direct (a ship) with or as if with a helm (see helm entry 1 sense 1a) : steer

helming a schooner

2

: direct, control

the director has helmed many action movies

helm

3 of 4

noun (2)

: helmet sense 1

helm

4 of 4

verb (2)

helmed; helming; helms

transitive verb

: to cover or furnish with a helmet

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• head
• chair
• forefront
• rein(s)
• top

Verb (1)

• steer
• pilot
• navigate

Examples of helm in a Sentence

Noun (1)

with a blind person at the helm, the city has made a lot of improvements for the physically challenged

Verb (1)

a treacherous route for any weekend sailor just learning to helm his vessel

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With both organisations championing women at the top - the RFU appointed Deborah Griffin as their first female president - Heerema noted that Nyetimber’s Head Winemaker, Cherie Spriggs has now been at the winemaking helm for the past two decades. —Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Director Saul Metzstein, nominated for an Emmy for his work on Season 3, returns to helm Season 5. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025

Verb

Howard went on to star in another beloved TV series, Happy Days, but eventually pivoted to directing, helming movies like Splash, Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Beautiful Mind. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

Anna Wintour speaks with David Remnick about how the magazine she’s helmed for decades is about to change. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English helme, from Old English helma; akin to Old High German helmo tiller

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing helm

• at the helm
• take the helm

Rhymes for helm

• elm
• realm
• overwhelm

Kids Definition

helm

1 of 2 noun

ˈhelm 

: helmet sense 1

helm

2 of 2 noun

1

: a lever or wheel controlling the rudder of a ship

also : the steering equipment of a ship

2

: a position of control : head

at the helm of the business