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head-on

[hed-on, -awn]
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adjective
  1. (of two objects) meeting with the fronts or heads foremost: a head-on collision.
  2. facing the direction of forward motion or alignment; frontal.
  3. characterized by direct opposition: a head-on confrontation.
adverb
  1. with the front or head foremost, especially in a collision: She stepped out of the front door and walked head-on into her husband.

Origin of head-on

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for head-on

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Fortunately, the wind came to me head-on as I steered for "The Cascade."

    My Airships

    Alberto Santos-Dumont

  • If there are blocks, it can be helpful to meet them head-on.

  • The car was coming fast, head-on for passage against all-comers.

    Dreamy Hollow

    Sumner Charles Britton

  • Say, I said, did you come close to anybody in that head-on attack?

    Test Pilot

    David Goodger (goodger@python.org)

  • But I know that the spot was lovely for a head-on collision.

    The Orphan

    Clarence E. Mulford

British Dictionary definitions for head-on

head-on

adverb, adjective
  1. with the front or fronts foremosta head-on collision
  2. with directness or without compromisein his usual head-on fashion
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for head-on

adv.

1840, from head (n.) + on.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper