as in reins
the place of leadership or command
with a blind person at the helm, the city has made a lot of improvements for the physically challenged
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Recent Examples of helms
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2026
Behind the camera, Berman and Pulcini direct the first two episodes, while Francesca Gregorini helms episodes three, six and seven, and Josephine Bornebusch takes on episodes four and five.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Working with various British helms over the years — Sir Ben Ainslie, Giles Scott and more recently Fletcher — part of Great Britain’s strength last year was the duo’s ever-solid partnership.
—Andrew Rice, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
For 35 years, the nonprofit that Ridgeway, the former Eagle mayor, now helms operated a senior center in the small city building on Old State Street.
—Rose Evans
updated December 10, Idaho Statesman, 10 Dec. 2025
Writer-director Benny Safdie helms this A24 drama that’s sure to be on Oscar voters’ radars.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The 63-year-old chef helms the kitchen at Vila Joya—the restaurant of a gracious boutique hotel in Portugal that shares its name—which earned one Michelin star in 1995 and a second in 1999.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2025
Conflict continued in China between communist and nationalist forces until the former eventually came out on top in 1949 leading to the creation of the People’s Republic of China that Xi now helms.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Allen-Miller helms The Roots Manœuvre from her own script.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
The designer who knows that better than anyone else is 42-year-old Glenn Martens, who creatively helms Diesel and Maison Margiela.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
The Oscar-winning actress also sings, writes, entertains fans with her viral cooking videos, and helms the lifestyle empire Goop — valued at around $250 million.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Rachel helms the ever-helpful front of house crew, stewarding diners in the restaurant's eclectically decorated 35 seats through unfamiliar territory like foie gras meatloaf and funky fish flake tarts.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 11 Feb. 2026
Opened in South Portland in 2012 by Saithe Guntaka, the restaurant is a family operation to its core—his mother, Hemalatha Reddy Guntaka, helms the kitchen.
—Emma Simard, Saveur, 4 Feb. 2026
Michelin Green Star chef, Peeter Pihel, helms the kitchen, crafting nutritious dishes from wild seaweed and fermented forest berries.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 1 Feb. 2026
Hairspray director Adam Shankman helms the film, which features cameos by Lisa Rinna, Matt Rogers, Rachel Bloom, and more.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Mémoires Colorées was born out of Patrick Frey’s (who currently helms Pierre Frey) close friendship with Belgian artist and paper sculptor Isabelle de Borchgrave.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Charlie Day helms Luigi, Jack Black is Bowser, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Keegan-Michael Key will play Toad.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2026
Behind the camera, Berman and Pulcini direct the first two episodes, while Francesca Gregorini helms episodes three, six and seven, and Josephine Bornebusch takes on episodes four and five.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Working with various British helms over the years — Sir Ben Ainslie, Giles Scott and more recently Fletcher — part of Great Britain’s strength last year was the duo’s ever-solid partnership.
—Andrew Rice, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
For 35 years, the nonprofit that Ridgeway, the former Eagle mayor, now helms operated a senior center in the small city building on Old State Street.
—Rose Evans
updated December 10, Idaho Statesman, 10 Dec. 2025
Writer-director Benny Safdie helms this A24 drama that’s sure to be on Oscar voters’ radars.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The 63-year-old chef helms the kitchen at Vila Joya—the restaurant of a gracious boutique hotel in Portugal that shares its name—which earned one Michelin star in 1995 and a second in 1999.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2025
Conflict continued in China between communist and nationalist forces until the former eventually came out on top in 1949 leading to the creation of the People’s Republic of China that Xi now helms.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Allen-Miller helms The Roots Manœuvre from her own script.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
The all-female directing team (led by producing director Weronika Tofilska, who helms half the season) take evident pleasure in effectively ramping up Rachel’s unease with jump scares and desolate, depopulated landscapes.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
The designer who knows that better than anyone else is 42-year-old Glenn Martens, who creatively helms Diesel and Maison Margiela.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
The Oscar-winning actress also sings, writes, entertains fans with her viral cooking videos, and helms the lifestyle empire Goop — valued at around $250 million.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Rachel helms the ever-helpful front of house crew, stewarding diners in the restaurant's eclectically decorated 35 seats through unfamiliar territory like foie gras meatloaf and funky fish flake tarts.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 11 Feb. 2026
Opened in South Portland in 2012 by Saithe Guntaka, the restaurant is a family operation to its core—his mother, Hemalatha Reddy Guntaka, helms the kitchen.
—Emma Simard, Saveur, 4 Feb. 2026
Michelin Green Star chef, Peeter Pihel, helms the kitchen, crafting nutritious dishes from wild seaweed and fermented forest berries.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 1 Feb. 2026
Hairspray director Adam Shankman helms the film, which features cameos by Lisa Rinna, Matt Rogers, Rachel Bloom, and more.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Mémoires Colorées was born out of Patrick Frey’s (who currently helms Pierre Frey) close friendship with Belgian artist and paper sculptor Isabelle de Borchgrave.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helms
Noun
-
Mills’ sacking is said to be one of the final decisions of outgoing BBC boss Tim Davie, who passes the reins to interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies this week.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Her mom, Nadine Anderson, gave her full reins over the project.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perfectionists Nini and Jane are feeling a bit neurotic, while Darlene Mitchell helpfully steers Juicy to develop a Karen that will lean into her strengths and make Ru laugh.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In an era in high school sports where boos, jeers, and uncalled-for chants are the status quo, Shelton steers fans to uplift rather than put down.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On September 30th, a few days after the attack, Loomer called out Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, the heads of Apple and Google, for making such programs available.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The players in this for the long haul — Matas Buzelis, Tre Jones, Patrick Williams and Giddey — are still wrapping their heads around the next steps for a rebuild.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The drones are always recording and equipped with high-quality zoom and thermal cameras as a Cincinnati police officer remotely pilots the drone from the department's command center.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
11 Dec. 2025
-
When Claire’s adult daughter Channing pilots the idea of going on a ski trip next year and starting her own holiday traditions, Claire completely ices her out and won’t consider it.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The furniture is more traditional than trendy—think beige walls, wood accents, and leather reading chairs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Other chairs are covered in a lighter-colored fabric.—
Jacobina Martin,
Washington Post,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helms. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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