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

Hearn and Warren, who had barely spoken in the years since the former took over the Matchroom helm from his father, Barry, understood that collaboration was necessary to keep up. —Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025

Photo by pixelshop/Shutterstock How to book travel packages On Location—the same group tasked with providing hospitality services for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup—will helm hospitality for the 2026 Winter Games as well. —Tiana Attride, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025

Verb

Before portraying the totally-over-it Nurse Harper in The Faculty, Salma Hayek was already a Hollywood darling thanks to her work in Desperado (1995) and From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), both of which were also helmed by The Faculty's director, Robert Rodriguez. —Keith Langston, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2025

The original film, helmed by Griffin Dunne, was based on Alice Hoffman’s 1995 novel of the same name, grossing more than $47 million stateside. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 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