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
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
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
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
Eric Vukicevich, a Sue and Eugene Mercy Junior Assistant Professor of Botany at Connecticut College, teaches sustainable agriculture and helms the student farm, Sprout.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helms
Noun
-
David Letterman, who launched the program in 1993 before handing the reins to Colbert in 2015, will be a guest on the Thursday, May 14 episode.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 May 2026
-
Since Feldman took the reins at the Playhouse in 2016, the historic theater has blossomed into a thriving arts ecosystem.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Gomez has been outspoken about the tactics of her colleague Carr, who steers the agency and influences the direction of the FCC’s regulatory Media Bureau.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Bukayo Saka steers Arsenal in-front vs Atletico!—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Jokanovic had collected 14 kills by the time the third set had ended, and one of them grazed the top of two Ball State defenders’ heads before hitting the court for the set-winner in the third frame.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
Several talking heads mention Magyar’s temper.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
There's also an optional co-op mode, which allows two players to split the controls of the Arwing starfighter and other vehicles; one person pilots them while the other shoots at enemies.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
Benji gives in to whatever Jake wants, desperate not to rock the boat, while Jake frequently pilots their relationship, taking control without giving much thought to Benji and his desires.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Fed chairs usually have a great deal of influence over the rate-setting committee, but their power is not absolute.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Then there’s the strategic introduction of accent colors, including the red stove, yellow chairs, and purple lava-stone countertop.—
Eleni N. Gage,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helms. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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