headboard

American  

[hed-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈhɛdˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

headboards plural

1. a board forming the head of anything, especially of a bed.

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headboard British  

/ ˈhɛdˌbɔːd /

noun

1. a vertical board or terminal at the head of a bed

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• headboards
  plural

Etymology

Origin of headboard

First recorded in 1720–30; head + board

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

headboard headboards

His niece, the daughter of Ms Nazarova, was also in the house and had to be rescued by firefighters after a headboard was placed to block her door.

From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026

That time spent getting the headboard, for example, was frankly spent in a sort of grim fugue state, wordlessly drifting from place to place in exhausted resignation.

From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2025

Basically, what that means is you lie on your bed and put your legs up against the headboard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2024

The bed in Nancy Gerrish’s bright Los Feliz home appears perfectly normal — carved wooden headboard, fuzzy brown blanket, cream-colored bed skirt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2024

I sat on my new bed and stared at the scuffed-up headboard.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

Fiberglass clamshells serve as headboards in guest rooms.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026

The prefecture’s giant timber bamboo was used for headboards and sofas.

From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2022

Go tall — headboards that practically touch the ceiling bring that luxe hotel vibe to any bedroom, but better yet, they also help to absorb sound.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2022

Etsy’s trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson, said self-expression is top of mind for dorm-bound kids in such things as faux headboards and unique dresser knobs.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 20, 2022

He made headboards out of hay bales which he lifted down with a single hand.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan