forehead

American  

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

noun

• foreheads
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• foreheads
  plural

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

See Examples For:

forehead foreheads

Lacey Harris, 40, an orthodontist in Friendswood, Texas, still uses Botox throughout her face, including in her forehead and around the mouth, but said that she has started asking for fewer units recently.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

But she keeps some of her forehead wrinkles for an “elevated” look that doesn’t feel overdone, she says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Catcher Dalton Rushing held his hand up to his forehead like a shark fin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

"I probably should have a cap," he conceded, wiping his forehead.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Miss Genovese slumps against the railing, grounding the heel of her hand against her forehead and squeezing her eyes shut.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Plus, dermatology clients are opting for ‘strategic wrinkling’ over completely smooth foreheads; and as Gen Z drinks less, Gen X is still down to party.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

On Wednesday, Ben Gvir sparked an outcry internationally but also within his own government by publishing a video of dozens of activists kneeling with their foreheads on the ground and their hands tied.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

Sometimes we work with lamps on our foreheads.

From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2026

The public image persists of government offices being filled with drones sitting with their foreheads on their desks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2025

His favorite was a type of poker where the players held a single card to their own foreheads so that everyone could see what you had but you.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby