head-on

[hed-on, -awn]

adjective

1. (of two objects) meeting with the fronts or heads foremost.

   a head-on collision.

2. facing the direction of forward motion or alignment; frontal.

3. characterized by direct opposition.

   a head-on confrontation.

adverb

1. with the front or head foremost, especially in a collision.

   She stepped out of the front door and walked head-on into her husband.

head-on

adverb

1. with the front or fronts foremost

   a head-on collision

2. with directness or without compromise

   in his usual head-on fashion

Word History and Origins

Origin of head on¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Example Sentences

Its elongated, oval shape suggests the asteroid hit at an angle rather than head-on.

Read more on Science Daily

Hartwig, who grew up in the Golden State, hopes Arbor’s technology can someday return to California to help finance the solution for the wildfire crisis he spent so many years facing head-on.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We know that we’re all going to die, but Ryuji is the character that really intellectually takes on the question head-on and wrestles with it.

Read more on Salon

"We are tackling this issue head-on, working with local authorities and over 150 travel industry partners to raise awareness of the dangers of methanol poisoning."

Read more on BBC

Only by facing this history head-on can Americans begin to imagine a politics not defined by the gun.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• candidly 
• honestly 
• openly www.thesaurus.com
• personally