Synonyms of head

head 1 of 3

noun

ˈhed 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skull
• scalp
• dome
• noggin
• pate
• nob
• poll
• noodle
• bean
• crown
• noddle
• cranium
• block
• mazard
• melon
• nut
• occiput

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• helm
• chair
• forefront
• top
• rein(s)
• headship
• driver's seat
• presidency
• directorship
• chieftainship
• jurisdiction
• chairmanship
• lead
• throne
• seat
• pinnacle
• dictatorship
• vanguard
• upper hand
• kingship
• deanship
• pedestal
• commandership
• premiership
• superintendency
• dominion
• mastership
• generalship
• mastery
• governorship
• dominance
• sway
• eminence
• height
• presidentship
• captainship
• sovereignty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ranks

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• foam
• surf
• froth
• suds
• spume
• lather
• spray
• mist
• mousse
• scum
• spindrift

4

as in person

a member of the human race

the tour guide counted heads, and everyone was present

Synonyms & Similar Words

• person
• guy
• man
• life
• creature
• body
• bird
• individual
• duck
• human
• fish
• soul
• egg
• being
• face
• baby
• sort
• scout
• thing
• specimen
• customer
• party
• human being
• bod
• devil
• character
• cookie
• personality
• personage
• stiff
• mortal
• fellow
• son of man
• wight
• slob
• brother
• somebody
• self
• neighbor
• homo
• humanoid
• hominid
• celebrity
• fellowman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• animal
• beast
• brute
• critter
• beastie

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crisis
• crossroad(s)
• emergency
• extremity
• point of no return
• situation
• crunch time
• boiling point
• breaking point
• crunch
• moment of truth
• flash point
• clutch
• juncture
• zero hour
• exigency
• Dunkirk
• conjuncture
• possibility
• tinderbox
• corner
• predicament
• milestone
• climax
• turning point
• strait
• contingency
• pass
• happening
• landmark
• hot water
• last ditch
• spot
• condition
• last minute
• impasse
• pinch
• deadlock
• jam
• eleventh hour
• scrape
• hole
• stalemate
• fix

6

as in headwater

the beginning part of a stream

Lake Itasca in Minnesota is the head of the Mississippi River

Synonyms & Similar Words

• headwater
• tributary
• source
• headstream
• fountain
• spring
• hot spring
• feeder
• fountainhead
• geyser
• headspring
• wellspring
• branch

7

as in top

the highest part or point

stood at the head of the stairs and looked down

Synonyms & Similar Words

• top
• pinnacle
• zenith
• culmination
• peak
• height
• apex
• crest
• crown
• summit
• climax
• meridian
• noon
• crescendo
• capstone
• apogee
• sum
• acme
• tip-top
• high-water mark
• roof
• highlight
• ceiling
• ne plus ultra
• tip
• high noon
• flower
• noontime
• cap
• flood tide
• prime
• blossom
• high
• heyday
• extremity
• vertex
• glory
• bloom
• extreme
• highspot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bottom
• foot
• base
• minimum
• rock bottom
• nadir
• abyss

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mind
• sanity
• marbles
• daylights
• health
• saneness
• wit(s)
• sense
• reason
• healthfulness
• rationality
• reasonableness
• healthiness
• soundness
• normality
• wholesomeness
• lucidity
• normalcy
• clearheadedness
• lucidness
• wisdom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• madness
• insanity
• dementia
• mania
• delusion
• derangement
• hallucination
• hysteria
• lunacy
• frenzy
• delirium
• unreason

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brain
• mind
• psyche
• skull
• intellect
• intelligence
• cerebrum
• thinker
• brilliance
• wisdom
• insight
• perception
• gray matter
• wit
• noodle
• loaf
• belfry
• consciousness
• mentality
• awareness
• judgment
• acumen
• sagacity
• reason
• alertness
• perspicacity
• cognizance
• astuteness
• sapience
• self-consciousness
• self-awareness

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boss
• foreman
• leader
• chief
• manager
• director
• master
• commander
• captain
• overseer
• supervisor
• administrator
• headman
• honcho
• executive
• president
• superintendent
• helmsman
• lord
• boss man
• taskmaster
• governor
• jefe
• kingpin
• principal
• general
• steward
• ruler
• mistress
• overlord
• employer
• king
• skipper
• prince
• directress
• sovereign
• baron
• magnate
• leadman
• superior
• potentate
• figurehead
• czar
• straw boss
• dominator
• mogul
• big gun
• standard-bearer
• higher-up
• bigwig
• hierarch
• top dog
• top gun
• cohead
• ganger
• gaffer
• coleader
• big cheese
• subchief
• subdirector
• micromanager

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subject
• secondary
• dependent
• subordinate
• junior
• underling
• inferior

11

as in dam

a bank of earth constructed to control water

built a head to create a millpond

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dam
• levee
• embankment
• rampart
• canal
• lock
• ditch
• barrier
• dike
• barricade
• jetty
• breakwater
• gutter
• weir
• trough
• block
• channel
• seawall
• bulwark
• sluice
• barrage
• earthwork
• breastwork
• stank
• milldam
• floodgate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bathroom
• restroom
• toilet
• bath
• water closet
• washroom
• bog
• lavatory
• loo
• john
• comfort station
• potty
• latrine
• cloakroom
• convenience
• pan
• can
• pot
• commode
• privy
• powder room
• outhouse
• half bath
• garderobe
• jakes
• ladies' room
• men's room
• ladies

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• user
• addict
• junkie
• stoner
• freak
• druggie
• hophead
• fiend
• hype
• dopehead
• doper
• speed freak
• crackhead
• burnout
• pothead
• cokehead
• acidhead

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonuser
• nonaddict

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lover
• fan
• sucker
• enthusiast
• maniac
• buff
• fanatic
• admirer
• devotee
• freak
• supporter
• collector
• addict
• fool
• bug
• friend
• hound
• nut
• fancier
• junkie
• proponent
• expert
• authority
• fiend
• aficionado
• habitué
• adherent
• maven
• promoter
• advocate
• connoisseur
• disciple
• exponent
• apostle
• amateur
• patron
• champion
• booster
• groupie
• follower
• convert
• evangelist
• votary
• dilettante
• cultist
• backer
• zealot
• partisan
• hanger-on
• faddist
• rooter
• well-wisher

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonfan
• critic
• detractor
• carper
• belittler
• nonadmirer

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• heading
• caption
• title
• headline
• header
• banner
• subtitle
• streamer
• rubric
• catchword
• greeting
• running head
• subheading
• salutation
• subhead
• superscription
• guide word
• superscript

16

as in talent

a special and usually inborn ability

I have no head for numbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• talent
• knack
• gift
• aptitude
• flair
• bent
• ear
• endowment
• faculty
• eye
• genius
• nose
• tendency
• mind
• affinity
• feel
• impulse
• inclination
• turn
• instinct
• penchant
• predisposition
• skill
• bias
• predilection
• propensity
• capacity
• touch
• facility
• disposition
• power
• competence
• way
• leaning
• capability
• proclivity
• potential
• hang
• proficiency
• partiality
• specialty
• habitude
• speciality
• forte
• specialism

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disability
• inability
• handicap
• incapacity
• weakness
• shortcoming

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• turn
• point
• make
• bear
• face
• set out
• back
• aim
• set off
• put
• direct
• bend
• steer
• veer
• take off
• put out
• turn back
• orient
• wheel
• strike
• tack
• cut
• light out
• reverse
• come about
• beeline
• incline
• come round
• swerve
• put about
• yaw
• about-face

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lead
• accompany
• attend
• precede
• announce
• escort
• usher
• herald

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• stop
• finish
• tail
• conclude
• terminate
• follow
• dog
• tailgate
• trail

3

as in to handle

to be in charge of

who headed the CIA when Ronald Reagan was president?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• handle
• supervise
• oversee
• boss
• manage
• steer
• command
• direct
• run
• control
• watch over
• guide
• captain
• superintend
• order
• overlook
• show
• ride herd on
• quarterback
• monitor
• call the tune (for)
• call the shots (of)
• administer
• shepherd
• rule
• reign
• preside (over)
• govern

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lead
• go
• run
• extend
• lie
• bear
• cross
• cut
• pass
• course
• follow
• span
• traverse

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aim
• cast
• direct
• set
• hold
• train
• bend
• steer
• focus
• face
• sight
• level
• pinpoint
• concentrate
• bear
• orient
• incline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• curve
• deflect
• shunt
• avert
• divert
• detour
• sidetrack
• rechannel

6

as in to command

to serve as leader of

Robert La Salle headed the expedition that claimed Louisiana for the French king

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lead
• command
• boss
• captain
• spearhead
• control
• oversee
• dominate
• direct
• manage
• handle
• supervise
• run
• regulate
• govern
• superintend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

7

as in to decapitate

to cut off the head of

got a job at the slaughterhouse heading cattle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decapitate
• scalp
• behead
• shorten
• trim
• guillotine
• prune
• decollate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chief
• presiding
• top
• commanding
• lead
• foremost
• leading
• supreme
• senior
• first
• high
• principal
• primary
• prime
• in charge
• main
• premier
• managing
• preeminent
• upper
• supereminent
• high-level
• overseeing
• supervisory
• major
• reigning
• controlling
• predominant
• directing
• dominant
• uppermost
• sovereign
• paramount
• ruling
• officiating
• topmost
• predominate
• regnant
• superior
• grand
• ascendant
• upmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• second
• lower
• last
• less
• subordinate
• secondary
• lesser
• subsidiary
• ancillary
• lowly
• inferior
• assistant
• deputy
• under
• junior
• assisting
• coadjutor

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of head

Noun

That’s the view of Charlie Bouckaert, JPMorgan’s global head of M&A. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, is the son of Penn head coach Fran McCaffery, and the two were sitting behind the bench. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Verb

Ryan was heading north to begin serving his six-year racketeering and fraud sentence at the federal correctional center in Oxford, Wisconsin. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

The seaplane is trying to take off, headed toward the camera. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Nov. 2026

Adjective

Carlson would serve alongside her as the other co-head coach, while Abernethy would hold the dual roles of diving coach and director of operations. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026

But his path to becoming the head coach of the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Iowa last month was also sparked by his relationship with Iowa general manager Matt Hendricks, an old summer skating partner during their playing days. — Joe Smith, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Phrases Containing head

• go to one's head
• head and shoulders
• head case
• head off
• off one's head
• swelled head

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Editor Peter Sokolowski breaks down a number of body parts with metaphorical uses as verbs, from head to toe.

Transcript:

Many parts of the body can be used as verbs in either a physical or a metaphorical sense. You can head a company, but if things go wrong you'll have to shoulder the blame, or face your investors. A good leader backs their employees, but if you don't toe the line you might get skinned. Did you muscle your way into that job? You might eye someone suspiciously, or wait for the police to finger a suspect. But if you need to get out of town, try thumbing a ride. You can ride with me if you can stomach the thought. I don't always sing along to the radio, but you might see me mouthing the words.