forehead

American  

[fawr-id, for-, fawr-hed, for-] / ˈfɔr ɪd, ˈfɒr-, ˈfɔrˌhɛd, ˈfɒr- /

noun

1. the part of the face above the eyebrows; brow.

2. the fore or front part of anything.

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forehead British  

/ ˈfɔːˌhɛd, ˈfɒrɪd /

noun

1. the part of the face between the natural hairline and the eyes, formed skeletally by the frontal bone of the skull; brow

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Etymology

Origin of forehead

before 1000; Middle English forehe ( v ) ed, Old English forhēafod. See fore-, head

Explanation

Your forehead is the top part of your face, just below your hairline and above your eyebrows. If you have long bangs, they cover up most of your forehead. You can also call your forehead your "brow." It's important for communication, since the forehead helps people express basic emotions — muscles in your forehead control the movement of your eyebrows, which help you express concern and anger, among other feelings. Forehead has the Old English roots fore, "the front part," and heafod, "top of the body," or "head."

Example Sentences

Later Sunday night, Trump posted on Truth Social what appeared to be an AI-generated image of himself dressed in religious robes with his hand on the forehead of a man lying in a hospital bed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

That afternoon in 2025, with his shellacked coif flapping against his bronzed forehead in the wind, the president held up hastily-assembled poster boards bearing the names of the world’s countries and territories.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

He described how there was a reddening of the skin around Noah's forehead as well as "extensive maceration and peeling" of his hands and feet.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

Featuring illuminated eyes in the film, and with original wiring in the right socket, this particular C-3PO head boasts several unique features including a forehead antenna.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

“Or good-looking,” Blake said as he gave his black Elvis wig a twist so it curled down his forehead in a perfect spiral.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin