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

Peet has wrinkles on her face, her forehead moves, and when she frowns, she frowns.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

Like so many other TV personalities in 2026, she cannot move her forehead, giving her already steely vibe the facial permanence of a screengrab.

From Slate • May 6, 2026

Also fueling backlash was the artificial-intelligence-generated image of Trump, in a white robe and a red stole, placing his hand on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed.

From Los Angeles Times • 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

The bleeding from his forehead slows and then stops within twenty-four hours.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman