head-on

1 of 2

adverb

ˈhed-ˈȯn 

-ˈän

1

: with the head or front making the initial contact

the cars collided head-on

2

: in direct opposition, confrontation, or contradiction

met the problem head-on

head-on

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having the front facing in the direction of initial contact or line of sight

a head-on collision

2

: frontal sense 2b

a head-on confrontation

Synonyms

Adverb

• eyeball-to-eyeball
• face-to-face
• head-to-head
• mano a mano
• one-on-one
• toe-to-toe

Examples of head-on in a Sentence

Adverb

the underdog team met its more talented opponent head-on and won the hockey game through sheer grit

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Like Coach Campbell, David Lancefield, a senior partner at Strategy& and a lecturer at the London Business School, offered a unique take on distractions and urged companies to confront them head-on, much the way the Lions did. —Don Yaeger, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

More:Man dead after crashing head-on into tree in south Louisville The interchange at I-265 and New Cut Road closed to traffic shortly after the crash, but at 7:27 a.m., Louisville Metro Emergency Services reported the roadway had reopened. —Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 3 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Raquel Leviss will be addressing her actions head-on. —Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2023

Many of its rivals are also racing head-on into the EV market. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

head-on

adjective

-ˈȯn,

-ˈän

: having the head or front facing forward : front to front

a head-on collision