head-to-head

adverb or adjective

ˈhed-tə-ˈhed 

: in a direct confrontation or encounter usually between individuals

Synonyms

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

Examples of head-to-head in a Sentence

it's fitting that the two best teams during the regular season will go head-to-head for the championship

Recent Examples on the Web

For the upstart football league, the women’s Final Four proved to be far too big to tackle, while the breakaway golf faction took a beating care of the UConn-South Carolina title tilt on ABC while losing a key head-to-head battle with its nemeses at the PGA Tour. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Apr. 2025

In Monday night's episode, the remaining 42 singers, sleep deprived from overnight rehearsals, paired up for the head-to-head round. —Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025

The college basketball tournament — which officially kicked off on March 20 — will see the final two teams, the University of Houston Cougars and the University of Florida Gators, go head-to-head in San Antonio, Texas, for a chance at the title. —Jordana Comiter, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025

But with a game in hand and that head-to-head contest still remaining, the Red Wings can at least keep their dreams alive another day, which is more than looked possible a week ago. —Max Bultman, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for head-to-head

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead