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
Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
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
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
West helms the film from a script by Nathaniel Halpern that adapts Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 novella.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helms
Noun
-
Wagner was handed the reins for the rest of the season after Cologne fired Lukas Kwasniok as coach on March 22.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The Clippers grabbed the reins from there despite Leonard, Jones or Lopez not playing in the final 12 minutes of the game.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This year’s event raised money for UpSpire, an employment program; Tarrant Area Food Bank; United Community Centers, focusing on food and literacy; and Tarrant To & Through Partnership, which steers students toward college or careers.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Studies show that during neutral years, the jet stream often steers storms out to sea rather than toward the Gulf Coast or Southeast, reducing overall landfall risk.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Ordinary humans like Stephen’s selfish boss are depicted as giant walking eggs, while others are proportioned like bobble heads.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
11 Apr. 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 chairs are folding camping chairs, and the highest tier option has drink holders.—
Vanessa Franko,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Subsequently, an old video surfaced of Paul, from 2023, in which she can be seen throwing chairs with her child in the room.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helms. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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