head 1 of 3

noun

ˈhed How to pronounce head (audio)
Definition of headnext
1
as in skull
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth I hit my head as I went through the low doorway

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2
as in helm
the place of leadership or command every year a different parent is placed at the head of the troop's cookie drive

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3
as in foam
a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid the head on the ice cream soda rose a good two inches above the rim of the glass

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4
as in person
a member of the human race the tour guide counted heads, and everyone was present

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5
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action when the disagreement between the two departments came to a head, the CEO called both managers in for a closed-door meeting

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6
as in headwater
the beginning part of a stream Lake Itasca in Minnesota is the head of the Mississippi River

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7
as in top
the highest part or point stood at the head of the stairs and looked down

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8
as in mind
the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities you're out of your head if you think you can swim across that river

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9
as in brain
the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons challenged us to put our heads together and find a solution to the skyrocketing costs of the company's health insurance plans

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10
as in boss
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do as head of the planning committee, he had the responsibility of appointing someone to look into the parking situation

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11
as in dam
a bank of earth constructed to control water built a head to create a millpond

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12
as in bathroom
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste give me a chance to visit the head, and I'll be all set to go

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13
as in user
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally a shop near campus where all the heads used to get their paraphernalia

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14
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something she's a total tech head who adores home electronics and computers

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15
as in heading
a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize rechecked to make sure that all the heads were in boldface

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16
as in talent
a special and usually inborn ability I have no head for numbers

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head

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to turn
to go on a specified course or in a certain direction she'll be heading out east in the fall to attend college

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2
as in to lead
to be at the front of heading the procession at the dog show was a miniature poodle, followed by dogs seemingly of every breed

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3
as in to handle
to be in charge of who headed the CIA when Ronald Reagan was president?

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4
as in to go
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the road to riches headed north, thought many, as off they went to Alaska to try their luck at panning gold

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5
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal after a long day at the beach, we headed the car toward home

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6
as in to command
to serve as leader of Robert La Salle headed the expedition that claimed Louisiana for the French king

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7
as in to decapitate
to cut off the head of got a job at the slaughterhouse heading cattle

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head

3 of 3

adjective

as in chief
highest in rank or authority as head editor at the TV station for 17 years, he has seen many news anchors come and go

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of head
Noun
At least, that’s how North Carolina’s star receiver portrayed the situation, with the Tar Heels looking to rally together around their 74-year-old, six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach after last year’s 4-8 campaign. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 18 July 2026 Buy whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-washed, bagged salad mixes. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Verb
Look for museums, churches and cathedrals To escape the sun, tour guides recommend heading inside museums, churches and cathedrals, which tend to be cooler because of thick walls, high ceilings and, sometimes, air conditioning. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2026 But which venues serve the best stadium food in America heading into the 2026 season? — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Adjective
Donovan became head coach of the Bulls in September 2020 after five seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026 Razvan Lucescu, his son, is currently head coach of Greek club PAOK, and his own 22-year managerial career spans 846 games. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for head
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head
  1. skull
  2. helm
  3. foam
  4. person
  5. crisis
  6. headwater
  7. top
  8. mind
Noun
  • Their soft tissue powderized ages ago, and some bones are now missing, including all of the princesses’ skulls.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 July 2026
  • They were developed from CT scans of his skull using PEEK, a lightweight thermoplastic material.
    — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of skull
Noun
  • There is another helm aft, which allows sailors to enjoy the exhilaration of the windward hull.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 July 2026
  • Catherine Villareal and Ana María Tarazona, will take over the helm while filmmaker Danniela Castro Valencia takes on the role of content consultant.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 15 July 2026
Definition of helm
Noun
  • In the case of an all-foam mattress, a denser bed will last longer and won’t sink in too much.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026
  • Each chair transforms into a full-size foam mattress that's already stored inside -- no air pumps or extra storage required.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of foam
Noun
  • Here’s a look at some of the numbers racked up by the person overseeing the tournament that will have featured a record 104 matches spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the largest geographic footprint in World Cup history.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Odysseus also prided himself on being the only person able to string his sturdy bow.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
Definition of person
Noun
  • Unlike wealthy nations with the reserves and infrastructure to buffer the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, import-dependent economies are more vulnerable to immediate, cascading supply chain shocks.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Also in development at Netflix is a drama starring Lizzy Caplan as a crisis PR expert, which is also based on a New York Magazine article.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of crisis
Noun
  • Following an exceedingly warm year that has left the Colorado River’s headwaters in the Rocky Mountains largely snowless, Lake Mead is nearing a record-low level.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • Its headwaters are in Indian River County, its mouth in the Atlantic near Jacksonville, which is the furthest place Sanders Fish House delivers its wild catch.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Definition of headwater
Noun
  • White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said the president may discuss the war in Iran and the state of the economy at the top of the speech.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026
  • The matching top and pants can also be worn separately throughout a trip.
    — Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026
Definition of top
Noun
  • Keep in mind that power lines that are laying on the ground may be live.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • To my mind that’s Union Station, the epicenter of the city’s rail and transit system and the doorway into its sprawling and grid-like downtown district.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of mind

Phrases Containing head

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hazy
head
headache
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Cite this Entry

“Head.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of head for Spanish Speakers

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