spearhead

play

noun spear·head \ ˈspir-ˌhed \

Definition of spearhead

1 :the sharp-pointed head of a spear

2 :a leading element, force, or influence in an undertaking or development

See spearhead defined for English-language learners

See spearhead defined for kids

Examples of spearhead in a Sentence

Her book was the spearhead of the clean water movement.

Recent Examples of spearhead from the Web

Green, on behalf of Centene Corporation, a health care business, has been a spearhead of the company’s Strong Youth, Strong Communities (SYSC) program.

— lorenzo reyes, USA TODAY, "Redskins legend Darrell Green bares his painful past to help students," 22 Aug. 2017
The attacker is highly adaptable and is able to deputise on either wing as well as at the spearhead of the attack in the number nine role.

— SI.com, "Chelsea Take the Lead in the Race to Lure Fluminese's 20-Year-Old Prodigy Richarlison," 24 July 2017
And at the spearhead of the attack will be Jones, the second-year center from George Washington, who has developed into one of the most fearsome frontcourt players in the league.

— john altavilla, courant.com, "Jones Turns Heads With All-Star Dunk; Sun Ready For Part II Of WNBA Season," 24 July 2017
A cache of spearheads carved of dragonglass was found buried in the snow by some of the Night’s Watch but appeared to be lost in the battle of Hardhome.

— chris barton, latimes.com, "'Game of Thrones': Three burning questions and six characters we'd like to see play a big role in Season 7," 15 July 2017
The spearhead is attached to a rope, which is essential for pulling up a massive fish fighting for its life.

— julia kramer, Bon Appetit, "Spears, Beers, and Caviar: Fishing for Sturgeon in Wisconsin," 6 Feb. 2017
A German physicist named Kurt Diebner was the spearhead of the program.

— National Geographic, "Inside the Daring Mission That Thwarted a Nazi Atomic Bomb," 5 June 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spearhead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of spearhead

14th century

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

spearhead

verb

Definition of spearhead

transitive verb

:to serve as leader or leading element of

See spearhead defined for English-language learners

Examples of spearhead in a Sentence

She spearheaded the campaign for better schools.
The movement was spearheaded by the teachers' union.

Recent Examples of spearhead from the Web

During the reign of President Park Chung-hee in the 1960s and 1970s, they were lionized for spearheading the rapid economic rise of a country that was poorer than North Korea.

— bruce einhorn, Bloomberg.com, "What Comes Next for Korea's Top Firms After Samsung Heir Convicted," 27 Aug. 2017
Senior running back Jacob Garret spearheaded the offensive unit, which is averaging nearly 400 yards per game through Week 2.

— kyle williams, The Courier-Journal, "Friday Night Rewind: Floyd Central coach Brian Glesing returns to sideline," 26 Aug. 2017
Growing organoids from those samples would be relatively simple, argued Beekman, who has since spearheaded the project.

— gunjan sinha, Science | AAAS, "This scientist is building miniature guts, livers, and lungs that could save your life one day," 23 Aug. 2017
Tyler spearheaded the Women of the Klu Klux Klan, the all-women, autonomous arm of the KKK that had roughly half-a-million members during the 1920s.

— laura smith, The Cut, "The Truth About Women and White Supremacy," 13 Aug. 2017
As mayor, she was credited with spearheading the creation of a modern library in town, and for refurbishing and revitalizing the old Paramount Theater, which was built in the 1930s.

— vincent m. mallozzi, New York Times, "She’s 98. He’s 94. They Met at the Gym.," 11 Aug. 2017
A team of developers, Rosenwald Courts Developers LLC, and Muskegon, Mich.-based Hooker DeJong architects, specialists in affordable housing, spearheaded the recovery.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "Restoration of church, apartment complex reveal value of neighborhood architectural gems," 4 Aug. 2017
The Adopt-A-Sign program, spearheaded by Kelly Goodpaster, environmental resource coordinator, encourages volunteers to plant and maintain flowerbeds below certain park signs with species that are native to Indiana and encourage pollinators.

— karen caffarini, Post-Tribune, "'Adopting' parks puts blooms in Hobart," 21 July 2017
After nearly six years largely spearheading a movement in Miami to develop an entrepreneurship hub, Matt Haggman, Knight Foundation program director for Miami, has resigned, the foundation said on Tuesday.

— nancy dahlberg, miamiherald, "Matt Haggman resigns as Knight Foundation’s Miami program director," 18 July 2017

First Known Use of spearhead

1937

spearhead Synonyms

Synonyms

boss, captain, command, head, lead

Related Words

control, dominate; direct, govern, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, run, superintend, supervise

Near Antonyms

bow (to), comply (with), defer (to), follow, obey, serve, submit (to), yield (to)

SPEARHEAD Defined for English Language Learners

spearhead

play

noun

Definition of spearhead for English Language Learners

: a person, thing, or group that organizes or leads something (such as a movement or attack)

spearhead

verb

Definition of spearhead for English Language Learners

: to be the leader of (something, such as a political movement)

SPEARHEAD Defined for Kids

spearhead

play

noun spear·head \ ˈspir-ˌhed \

Definition of spearhead for Students

1 :the head or point of a spear

2 :the person, thing, or group that is the leading force (as in a development or an attack)

spearhead

verb

Definition of spearhead for Students

spearheaded; spearheading

:to serve as leader of

She spearheaded a campaign for change.

Learn More about spearhead

See words that rhyme with spearhead Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for spearhead Spanish Central: Translation of spearhead Nglish: Translation of spearhead for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of spearhead for Arabic speakers

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Examples of spearhead in a Sentence

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First Known Use of spearhead

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

spearhead

Definition of spearhead

Examples of spearhead in a Sentence

Recent Examples of spearhead from the Web

First Known Use of spearhead

spearhead Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

SPEARHEAD Defined for English Language Learners

spearhead

Definition of spearhead for English Language Learners

spearhead

Definition of spearhead for English Language Learners

SPEARHEAD Defined for Kids

spearhead

Definition of spearhead for Students

spearhead

Definition of spearhead for Students

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