head-on
adjective
(of two objects) meeting with the fronts or heads foremost.
head-on
American
[hed-on, -awn]
/ ˈhɛdˈɒn, -ˈɔn /
adjective
-
(of two objects) meeting with the fronts or heads foremost.
a head-on collision.
-
facing the direction of forward motion or alignment; frontal.
-
characterized by direct opposition.
a head-on confrontation.
adverb
head-on
British
adverb
-
with the front or fronts foremost
a head-on collision
-
with directness or without compromise
in his usual head-on fashion
head on
Idioms
-
With the face or front first, as in The two bicycles collided head on . [Early 1800s]
-
In direct conflict, in open opposition, as in They decided to meet the opposition head on .
Etymology
Origin of head-on
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
At first, markets greeted the Fed’s rate hike with relief; President Trump had argued rates were already too high, and investors had worried that Warsh would hesitate to tackle rising prices head-on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
A good legal brief takes on the strongest argument of the other side and deals with it head-on.
From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026
“They’re entering a labor market that is increasingly challenging for entry-level roles in light of AI … and facing head-on a massive affordability challenge.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
What Monica did, following her instincts, at dinner, I started to do on the page — confront the uncomfortable head-on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Instead of a side view, this is a slice of the brain taken head-on.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Less clear was what the Fed planned to do next: Would the move be a one-off event, or the start of a series of hikes to confront inflation head on?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
In commentary published late Thursday, Lee, the usually bullish head of research at Fundstrat, addresses the inflation issue head on.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
Do I have a sandbag to rest my head on while all this melee is happening around me?'
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
Things came to a head on tour, where her stage fright went into overdrive and she suffered "just terrible, terrible anxiety".
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
In the After, I ask for a cheeseburger and fries, shove Andre’s legs back to his side of the car, and rest my head on Emma’s shoulder.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
